Arsenal

[a big boy]

David Seaman

Lee Dixon

Nigel Winterburn

Patrick Vieira (I know AW brought him in, but he still had him from day 1)

Steve Bould

Tony Adams

David Platt

Ian Wright

Paul Merson

Dennis Bergkamp

Marttin Keown

Ray Parlour

Not too shabby.

[carlito]

Amaury Bischoff looks like he might be on his way at the end of the season.

He told FranceFootball: “I have a meeting this weekend with Arsène Wenger and Arsenal’s management to discuss my future. What is certain is that I can do whatever I want because I am free in a few days. I will consider all proposals that are available to me.”

He was then asked if he wanted to stay at Arsenal, and he replied, “If they want to keep me, why not. But under certain conditions. What I want is to play every Saturday for my club. We’ll see what happens the next few weeks. But if i have to leave, it will not be a problem.

“I have contacts everywhere. England, Germany, Portugal, Spain and even France. I go where I will play as much as possible. Because I know I can become a Portugal international. And for that, the coach Carlos Queiroz, who believes in me and told me himself, is that I need to play regular at club level. So i will probably do that.

Fair enough. We got him for nothing when he was injured on a one year contract and if the boy wants to play football every week then Arsenal probably isn't the right place for him. Perhaps would have been nice if we could have made a few quid from it but not the end of the world that we won't.

[toythatkills]

Would've been nice if we ever got a chance to see if he was actually good before dumping him.

Anyone find the rumours that Real have offered Wenger £100m to spend on players if he joins them, hilarious? It's like they don't know him at all

[redbloodcell]

Would've been nice if we ever got a chance to see if he was actually good before dumping him.

Anyone find the rumours that Real have offered Wenger £100m to spend on players if he joins them, hilarious? It's like they don't know him at all

That's all from Perez though isn't it? So it wouldn't really be 'here's £100m, go spend it", it'd be, "here's £100m worth of players, MAKE THEM FIT"

[Lucky]

That's all from Perez though isn't it? So it wouldn't really be 'here's £100m, go spend it", it'd be, "here's £100m worth of players, MAKE THEM FIT"

Exactly!

AW to Real is just not gonna happen. If ever there were two ideas completely opposite about how to run a football club, then it's AW's idea and Real's idea.

[Petrousgyre]

That's all from Perez though isn't it? So it wouldn't really be 'here's £100m, go spend it", it'd be, "here's £100m worth of players, MAKE THEM FIT"

Presumably most of that will go on Ronaldo too, and Reals problems are much more critical than anything Showpony can paper over.

[phresh]

Very little chance of Ronaldo going, that 'showpony' will be helping United to more trophies next year! More chance of Kaka or Ibrahimovic going there.

And as much as Wenger and Real have completely different procurement strategies they do both want to play the same football, so they have something in common. Large wage bills too, I couldn't believe how big Arsenals was a couple of seasons back and I can't image too much has changed since.

[Petrousgyre]

And as much as Wenger and Real have completely different procurement strategies they do both want to play the same football, so they have something in common. Large wage bills too, I couldn't believe how big Arsenals was a couple of seasons back and I can't image too much has changed since.

I believe the wage bill issue is more to do with Arsenals straightforward approach to accounting, in which players wages include performance bonuses and so on, unlike most other premiership clubs.

[phresh]

That would make sense.

[Lucky]

hope this was a planned op and not another setback

[carlito]

hope this was a planned op and not another setback

Hmm not sure I like the sound of "revision surgery". Makes me feel like we'll be seeing more of it.

The first official photos of the new away kit seem to be finding their way onto the internet now.

Midnight Blue.

Looks a bit better on Theo than it does on the picture of Cesc on Arseblog who looks shocking.

I don't like the collar or the fit too much but the colour/stripes seem ok.

It makes me think of the type of polo shirt you might get 3 for a tenner in Burtons or Primark rather than serious sporting apparel.

[Daley]

I never buy football shirts anymore but I can honestly say I wouldn't wear that one if it was given to me.

And we don't wear blue but I am tired of saying that. We have had shitty blue kits for so long now it is almost have if that is a traditional Arsenal away kit now.

Also:

Gunnerblog says the Eduardo thing was just to remove some screws from his new leg. So planned all along.

This picture makes it look slightly less hideous:

And the Standard now says we have £50m to spend when/if Adebayor is sold. Let's be honest, they don't have a clue do they?

[Dude Ranch]

£25m plus money from any sales is the latest 'news'*. Also, Adebayor not present at the end of season piss up.

* Didn't see Daley's edit.

[Mars]

Story Of The Day

'Imagine Arsenal hiring out the Emirates Stadium for a Madonna concert in May 2010 only to realise closer to the time that they need the venue to play a Champions League semi-final. That is roughly the situation facing Stan Kroenke, the majority shareholder at the North London club, with a 28.3 per cent stake. It's a public relations and scheduling error that has led him to be challenged to a wrestling match by Vince McMahon, the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

'The bizarre tale begins last August, when Kroenke's company, Kroenke Sports Enterprises, agreed in principle to hire out the Pepsi Arena in Denver, Colorado, on May 25, 2009, to the WWE for its Monday Night RAW wrestling show. On April 15 of this year, the deal was finalised. However, Kroenke's basketball team, the Denver Nuggets, having advanced to the semi-finals of the NBA play-offs, are now scheduled to play a home match on that day against the Los Angeles Lakers.

'...Kroenke's camp said it was working towards a solution. Most likely it will involve switching the game to another city or paying WWE a large amount in compensation. For his part, McMahon, ever the showman, has come up with his own solution: a steel-cage match between himself and Kroenke, 62, with the winner entitled to use the Pepsi Arena on Monday' - The Times. See Mr McMahon for yourself here.

[Daley]

For his part, McMahon, ever the showman, has come up with his own solution: a steel-cage match between himself and Kroenke, 62, with the winner entitled to use the Pepsi Arena on Monday'

That is the best thing I have ever read. Ever.

[Mars]

If Kroenke was losing Eboue would run in with a chair and lay McMahon out whilst the ref wasn't looking.

[Daley]

If Kroenke was losing Eboue would run in with a chair and lay McMahon out whilst the ref wasn't looking.

And then Usmanov would run out and go at it with Eboue.

Eboue would be so good in the WWE. He knows how to fall over without hurting himself already.

[Dude Ranch]

And then Usmanov would run out and go at it with Eboue.

And then Diaby would run in, swing a punch and FUCKING MISS THE STUPID CUNT!

[mop]

If Kroenke was losing Eboue would run in...

dressed as a lion

... with a chair and lay McMahon out whilst the ref wasn't looking.

[Dude Ranch]

Adebayor also missing from the new kit photographs .

[mop]

If he does go (looking highly likely), I hope he goes quick.

[Mars]

Yeah, doesn't look good for him.

I remember when Henry was shot in the next season's kit (white - the ad in the tube station) and then moved

I mean

[Lucky]

We gotta let Adebayor go, not only is he a cunt, but he would raise a decent amount of dosh, add that to something we already have, then go and buy a CB & CM.

The blue kit doesn't look that bad, I thought I would hate it but it aint bad.

Should be Yellow though.

[Lucas]

Good riddance as well. Just last summer he got a fat new contract and this year he needs to consider his future. WAT?

Clearly only in it for nice fat paydays for him and his agent.

Close the door on your way out, Adebayor.

[carlito]

Although I don't think there is much that can be done now to make Adebayor's position in the club more comfortable and although I have fucking despised his conduct and attitude pretty much since the end of his "wonder season" it remains a terrible shame that we failed to really get the best out of Adebayor at Arsenal.

It's a bitter statement but I really, really hope the rest of his career is shit. He had it all then he threw it away for all the worst reasons. I hope life provides reason for him to regret doing that.

[Daley]

Although I don't think there is much that can be done now to make Adebayor's position in the club more comfortable and although I have fucking despised his conduct and attitude pretty much since the end of his "wonder season" it remains a terrible shame that we failed to really get the best out of Adebayor at Arsenal.

I agree but I put all the blame at his feet. This time last season he had Wenger as a manager, a team built around him pretty much and almost universal praise from the fans. And he chucked it away because he had to prepare for his retirement.

[carlito]

I put all the blame at his feet.

I don't think there is anyone but himself who doesn't.

[Daley]

I don't think there is anyone but himself who doesn't.

Indeed. The sad thing is that his game depends on him not having an ego. He has to chase, win headers and flick ons, hold the ball up and do all the ugly things. This season he seems to have decided that he is Henry MkII and likes to drift over to the left wing which has seen him become much less effective. He is not fit to lace Henry's boots.

If he gets his head out the clouds he can be a decent player for someone again (his Arsenal career is over) but if not then he will just drift from club to club wondering what went wrong while he plans for his "retirement".

[carlito]

If he gets his head out the clouds he can be a decent player for someone again

This I don't want to happen. It would really fuck me off if he went on to be amazing and was all like "Yeah, I really tried at Arsenal, but their fans were dicks so I had to leave - their loss! Look at me now! Anyway thanks for the world player of the year award I fucking deserve it because I am amazing"

[Daley]

This I don't want to happen. It would really fuck me off if he went on to be amazing and was all like "Yeah, I really tried at Arsenal, but their fans were dicks so I had to leave - their loss! Look at me now! Anyway thanks for the world player of the year award I fucking deserve it because I am amazing"

Don't lose any sleep. That will never happen, even at his best. They never give it to "the big shit bloke up front" which is what my friends and I call his position.

EDIT: Arsenal's end of season party. Adebayor nowhere to be seen.