Arsenal exodus

[billycopper]

It's looking like Wenger has quite a rebuilding job on his hands. Aren't Campbell, Gallas, Senderos and Silvestre all available on free transfers? That's an awful lot of experience to replace in one go.

The only player in their defensive unit (including goalkeeper) that looks like a real class act is Vermaelen.

If Fabregas also makes his expected departure you would expect the Gunners to take quite a large step backwards next season, which can only be good for us.

 

[MapleLeafEvertonian]

Think Wenger is on borrowed time...5 years and they won **** all( could have easily won the carling cup if they actually bothered). Keep on waiting for this team of young superstars that Wenger has been building for a while now, and with season tickets in the £1000 of pounds they really have to deliver next season....of course we said that for last season. Now they are about to lose Fabregas which is good for everyone else.

If Everton can get there act together we could easily finish 3rd, the ability between 3rd and 8th place teams is pretty much the same with Fabregas leaving now.

 

[Neiler]

I think it will be them and Chelsea over the next few years at the top if im honest. Its a puity about Fabergas he was the crown jewel, yet some of the young players they have who will kinck on are simply going to be easily some of the best players in the league.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

They don't really have anyone who can step up and replace Fabregas at the moment, Ramsey and Wilshere are talented but they aren't ready to make that step as of yet, and neither have the potential Fabregas had.

Arsenal are going to have to buy if Fabregas leaves, luckily for them if he does they'll get a lot of money. Yaya Toure might be part of the deal aswell, which would be useful.

 

[Brownie]

It sounds like they will end up with something like Joe Cole, Gourcuff and Yaya Toure plus quite a bit of cash left over in exchange for Fabregas leaving. If they do that, they will still easily be a mainstay at the top of the league.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Browns, Have you seen much of Gourcuff?

 

[Brownie]

Not loads, but bits and pieces from when I used to watch Lyon and the odd Champs League game and internationals. To be honest, I'm very surprised he hasn't been signed by anyone yet. I know it didn't really work out for him at Milan, but he's a top player. He's one of those players that just has ridiculous potential, if he clicked into one of the top teams, he could be absolutely world class.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Thanks for the info, I haven't seen much of him, nothing that I can remember anyway. Is he similar to Fabregas?

 

[Brownie]

A little bit, not quite as intelligent on the ball as Cesc. He's very much a French style playmaker rather than Spanish if that makes any sense. He actually reminds me of Gerrard a little bit, likes to run around and do everything, tries ridiculous little bits of skill that look weird but actually work, just generally good at everything. Definitely the kind of player that would get you excited if you signed him.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Sounds good, I'd do it if I was Arsenal, certainly if Barca pay big money and give them Yaya Toure. Fabregas needs to move on now, he's given Arsenal as much as he can. And He's a Barca boy, he wants to play for his boyhood club.

 

[billycopper]

Arsenal have got some fantastic attacking players in Van Persie, Arshavin, Nasri etc, but Wenger has still to address their defensive frailties. Almunia is not a title-winning goalkeeper. Vermaelen needs a pacy partner. Clichy just doesn't look up to it. And I have reservations about Diaby in the holding role.

Fabregas is the focal point of their team. If he does leave, they will be very big boots to fill.

I'm sure I read that Arsenal need to pay back something like £30m per season to cover the finance on the Emirates and that, to do that, they would need to sell a big star each year. In previous seasons it has been Henry, Adebayor and Toure.

To me, Arsenal seem like an academy side, like Ajax, rather than a team with ambitions to reach the pinnacle of the game. To a degree, you can't fault them.

 

[Brownie]

To be honest I don't think they would suffer that much if they signed the players I mentioned above. So long as Wenger actually spends some of the Fabregas money on class players, then it will stop all their best players leaving. As long as RVP stays, he will become their new talisman and someone like Gourcuff the 'number two'. The only way they could possibly fade away is if Fabregas left and they signed a load of 17 year olds again, then RVP, Arshavin and Nasri would probably leave and they'd be ****ed, but I can't see that happening.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I like what I've seen of Gourcuff too. Plays with his head up and could potentially be a world beater

 

[stinger]

Thanks for the info, I haven't seen much of him, nothing that I can remember anyway. Is he similar to Fabregas?

Gourcouff is natural playing in very advanced positions, almost as SS, like Brownie pointed out - he is quite direct and has a good natural instincts for scoring.
Fabregas was also doing this last season for Arsenal, but he had to adjust his game, because he's natural "8", not "10". But I'm watching Spain right now against South Korea and Iniesta is playing as "8" with Fabregas playing as "10", just behind Llorente. 2 years ago they would probably swap positions.

 

[bluebloodinmyveins]

They will be fine. Unlike most clubs they plan for the future. Not entirely convinced they will challenge for major honours though, especially if Fabregas leaves.