So when Arsène spoke about his new contract for the first time he was asked about the summer and he went off on one a little about the importance of adding to the squad in June - July. Ok maybe not going off on one but for Arsène to give that much away without much prompting it made me think he has a plan. But that is not it, Ivan Gazidis was recently talking to fans at one of those fans cosy chit chatting sessions and he spoke about Arsenal being in deep conversations with clubs at the moment and I'm pretty sure he said something off record about 'a big one' I don't think he was talking about Oliver Giroud in the showers either.
Mario Balotelli has been untamed by pretty much every manager that he has come across. Both on the pitch and off the pitch he has let his clubs down time and time again. Before the argument enters your mind I would just like to say that I don't think that the Suarez/van Persie comparison is valid. Firstly Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie are players who are fighters who would do anything to win. Sometimes that spills over into anger and frustration. I have to admit to not being a regular viewer of Mario and his Balotelli ways so maybe I am not too qualified to make my next point but someone who's footballing knowledge I trust has watched him many times last season and said that he strolls around the

Twitter doesn't really give that type of breathing space for such scenarios to happen. You're instantly exposed (sometimes indirectly) to many who want and wish for heavy attention and you may often find them saying outrageous things that they themselves do not believe just because they like measuring reaction and receiving interaction, or worse, to get enough of a reaction so that they can sell awful merchandise. And this does not stop at a click of a button, (you can easily log off or block every Arsenal fan as an alternative), or you can let go of a subject right there and then, and even leave Twitter. But if you come back the next day, someone who has just woken up on the other side of the world will give you his/her side on the exact same overtalked, overdiscussed issue and it is replicated, often following the similar pattern of others.

Aurier has an ability to get beyond the right winger and put in dangerous crosses from advanced positions. On occasions this year, when Walcott was injured, we relied on Sagna getting forward and posing a threat on the right flank, and although Sagna’s crossing has improved in the last few seasons, he really doesn’t offer much of a threat. He doesn’t like to cut inside and take on a shot when the opportunity is presented and often relies on getting his head up and trying to play in a cross. Aurier on the other hand averages 1.7 shots a game, compared to Sagna’s 0.5, and has an average of 1.1 crosses per game compared to Sagna’s 0.5.
It feels like those wanting Cesc back are thinking emotionally rather than anything else. I count myself in that to a point. Not that I think it is vital to have him back in our team but because the idea of him wearing the blue of Chelsea is enough to make me sick. But that is from an emotional point of view, a point of view that the manager has to avoid when makinhg decisions. Without question Cesc Fabregas makes Chelsea or Arsenal a better team, but £30m plus his wages for a 27 year old central attacking midfielder makes no sense for Arsenal. Well unless we have a bottomless pit and if giving
The last time Arsène Wenger was able to compete financially with those around him he built arguably our greatest ever football team. Today there is more competition, there are more clubs with greater spending power than us but for the first time in a while we are able to keep the players we want to keep. Arsène has tied down 99% of his players to long term deals, they are all pulling in the same direction and it would have seemed just wrong for Arsène Wenger to drag the club to this stage to then hand over the reigns to another manager. That is my opinion and I am guessing that if you often find yourself saying any of the following then you do not agree.
![]()
Transfer speculation aside, this summer Wenger has a chance to put his foot down and dictate how much action we should be doing in the window. It is clear that a right back is needed, a striker will be acquired and potentially a midfield recruit (although I have a feeling it will be an attacking wide player rather than a bull-dozing, testosterone sniffing, Vieira-Pogba-esque hybrid that so many fans long for). These three positions aside, there is a smidgen of uncertainty over one or two players – namely the charismatic Podolski and the steely eyed first team captain Thomas Vermaelen.
Do you remember when that Norwich City player re-broke Bacary Sagna's leg towards the end of a few seasons ago? Well Bac was not ready for the new season and Jenkinson had what I assume is his biggest stretch of games in the first team. He was one of our best defenders during that period. I think it was Steve Bould's first few games as assistant manager and that was when he was involved with the back four, working on the team's shape and body positions etc. I distinctly remember thinking that Sagna should not be walking back into the team given Carl's performances. Ironically that was Sagna's worst season in an Arsenal shirt if I have my dates correct.
![]()