Alexis Sanchez

[Gary James]

Football goes through cycles. Arsenal are genuine old guard. I'm slowly but surely reading Gary James' book and it seems like back in the 1930's City and Arsenal were vying to be England's best team, with City possibly the biggest team around and The Rags pretty much nowhere until we let them rent Maine Road. How old does the guard have to be?

City really do have a history of cocking things up. Gary's book is full of examples from before my time but one thing that has always stuck in my mind from my days supporting City is my belief in the late 70's that we were in a position to form a big three with The Rags and the Scousers until Swales and Big Mal royally fucked that up.

Our new owner is still presiding over underachievement but, overall, this does seem like a new beast and the next few weeks will hopefully be part of a growing testament to that: it's about time the real old guard cemented its place.

Absolutely spot on. Arsenal were the more successful in the 30 but City & Arsenal the prominent 2 clubs and, in terms of rivalry, were perceived a bit like MUFC v LFC. City-Arsenal games were often more attractive/better attended than derby games. 1932 AFC beat City with a late, late controversial goal in the FAC semi which established the rivalry, then City started to find trophy success (as did Arsenal). In 1935 the two sides established the League record crowd at Maine Road and then in 1936-37 there were the clashes for t title (which City won). But it was more than simply crowds and attendances.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

When he re-signs after we win the Premiership

Didn't know you lot played rugby

 

[Dobsy]

Your analysis is anything but 'reality' . You want Sanchez to sign for you and so persuade yourself it's going to happen based upon assertion and rumour.

What examples are there of Arsenal resisting transfer approaches for their top players? I can't think of any since the annual ritual of Real Madrid courting Viera.

Since then I can think of Cole, RVP, Fabregas, Adebayor, Nasri, Clichy, Sagna who've left to join direct rivals in the PL.

For the record, I think Sanchez is using City to drive up the value of the contract offer from Arsenal. We've seen people do this before, notably John Terry.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

Grannyshagger was another.

 

[Pepup]

We could live without him Arsenal can't.

 

[eversince 76]

Up until this moment imho the problem is between Arsenal and Sanchez. We don't need him as much as Arsenal does, they look at a contract that has one year left, the player wants to leave or is using his position to try and get a top salary. He might end up needing to sit out another year without a payrise and walking out of there on a free.
If Arsenal decide to sell and we can get him, great. If not, I'm not too concerned tbh. Great player but easier to get players in a similar position than for instance a decent wingback. And we need 4 of those apparently, so Id say that is our problem. Not Sanchez. Or Arsenal.

 

[Sir peace frog]

Didn't know you lot played rugby

did you not watch the fa cup semi ? , more ufc than rugby granted but more rugby than football.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

did you not watch the fa cup semi ? , more ufc than rugby granted but more rugby than football.

Lol

 

[Dewey6]

'Wumming' is very much in the eye of the beholder. All too often on here, it means having the temerity not to buy into the forum groupthink regardless how deluded it might seem to the non City fan, like me. And yes, I do think we will win the Title next season.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

are you joining the scottish league?

in england it's called the premier league, not the premiership.

That's it Callum, you'll make him hide on the grounds of orthography (:

 

[Taylor]

Not surprised by the stance of Wenger or Arsenal in the slightest.

Just goes to show... no chance this will be completed by Saturday as stated by many.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Hope you were in the eastern parts then, cause the weather has been shit here in the west where I live. Other than that I hope you enjoyed your stay. Hopefully this turns out to be a good week transfer wise.

Cheers, but I think you've been unlucky mate.

I've been working in the West most of the time but still managed plenty of sunshine, boats & balcony's & even a beach, inbetween. Shall now be getting pissed, fishing etc for about 3 weeks & so long as there's a reasonable share of sunshine, I don't mind some shite weather thrown in. It is really beautiful either way.

Only disappointment is missing the cricket.

If we can get some fullbacks returning from holiday during the week, & release Kolarov as a reward for his long service, I think we will be one good cb away from the best squad in football.

Don't give a toss about Sanchez personally. Looking at the options, an on form Sané would be the first name on my team sheet.

 

[Idontpullout]

Everytime i log into this thread after seeing lots of new pages added in a short amount of time and wasting the next 10 minutes reading them.

 

[Gladstonian Liberal]

Hi GL we have had a City viewpoint which you obviously disagree with so first of all do you think City are interested and if so at what stage do you feel they have reached.

I think City are interested which explains the press speculation.

I don't think they have made a bid but maybe have lodged an expression of interest.

I can't see Sanchez being let go unless we sign a Mbappe and Lemar/Mahrez.

Put yourself in Wenger's position, because of the need to fund the new stadium we experienced 10 years of austerity having to sell players we'd ideally liked to have kept. I'd say in those circumstances qualifying every year for 20 years for the CL was some achievement. We are no longer in that financial position. Wenger knows all too well the frustrations of the fans. He has signed a 2 year extension. I believe it will be his last contract at Arsenal (he will be 70 by then). He will want to go out having done everything to win the Title. I think Kroenke respects him enough to let him have a completely free hand over transfers. If he cannot get the marquee signings I mentioned above, Sanchez will stay regardless of losing him in 12 months and for no value. Challenging for the Title is more important than losing £50m (actually £42m when you deduct the pay rise he's been offered).

That's my analysis. Only time will tell if I'm suffering from the same fault of confirmation bias as the rest of you but there you have it.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Why?

Cos The Arse will have won the title by then!

 

[Neville Kneville]

Everytime i log into this thread after seeing lots of new pages added in a short amount of time and wasting the next 10 minutes reading them.

Read the last ones first.

If anything has happened, it will be pretty obvious. And vice versa.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Don't think so?

The marketing campaign frightened children.

 

[BlakeTheBlue]

If he doesn't come, I'd say the Arsenal fans will have the last and loudest laugh...

Yeah, but their fans genuinely think Lacazette is the guy who will fire them to the PL title. The guy who can't even get a game for France ahead of the other bang Average Arsenal striker Giroud. Sanchez would be nice, but even without him our attacking options blow theirs away. FB positions are way more important to us. In fact, i kind of only want to sign Sanchez for the Arsenal Mania meltdown. I want to see Slartibartfast, THunter, Ronaldomadness and a few of the other 14 year old "Blood-Fams" crying tears of the purest gold.

The whole thing's irrelevant to them really which is the ironic part. Even if the were to keep Sanchez and sign Lemar, it's Arsenal ffs!... They will remain as irrelevant in the PL as they have been for over a decade.

 

[RoslerThe2nd]

Hi chaps and chappettes. Arsenal fan, no animosity transfer window is after all silly season!

Just came in as I saw a post RE wage bill. Just for clarity we have no issues in terms of wages.

We have around 100-150m to spend in transfer fees/agent fees. We've already spent 50m of that on Kolasinac and Lacazette. After that we'll probably sign Lemar for around £50m and be done for this window unless someone leaves.

Our outgoings will come in handy. From the definite players leaving (Perez, Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Jenkinson, Akpom, Joel Campbell) we will yield 15m a year in wages and transfer fees around the 50m mark.

All of that revenue will be used against the yearly wage bill which is allowed. Our wage bill would increase by a maximum of £40m a year if Alexis, Ozil, Ox and Ramsey sign their new contracts. (20m) After that Lacazette, Lemar and Kolasinac take up the rest.

No issues with wages.

 

[Gladstonian Liberal]

Yeah, but their fans genuinely think Lacazette is the guy who will fire them to the PL title. The guy who can't even get a game for France ahead of the other bang Average Arsenal striker Giroud. Sanchez would be nice, but even without him our attacking options blow theirs away. FB positions are way more important to us. In fact, i kind of only want to sign Sanchez for the Arsenal Mania meltdown. I want to see Slartibartfast, THunter, Ronaldomadness and a few of the other 14 year old "Blood-Fams" crying tears of the purest gold.

The whole thing's irrelevant to them really which is the ironic part. Even if the were to keep Sanchez and sign Lemar, it's Arsenal ffs!... They will remain as irrelevant in the PL as they have been for over a decade.

Yeah, but...