We’re back! The summer round up so far and the likely ins and outs of the window!

First off, big apologies for the lack of posts and very little communication over the past few months. Life changed a lot and ultimately a few things had to give, the website unfortunately included in that. However, things recently have settled down and are back to normality (mostly, anyway). As a result I’ve decided to start up the site again, bravo!

A round up of the summer so far

The summer so far has been unusual in an Arsenal sense. We’ve signed two top quality forwards in Lukas Podolski and Oliver Giroud, from FC Koln and Montpellier. Podolski has signed for £11.8 million on a contract around £70,000 a week and Oliver Giroud for £9.6 million, which was his buyout clause. The Montpellier chairman Louis Nicollin regretting his decision to allow such a minute figure:

“Allowing Giroud a €12m buyout clause was bloody silly. In future, there’ll be no more buyout clauses”

Carlos Vela has signed for Real Sociedad for £3million. A small figure for a player of his talent, however we do have a 50% sell on clause. He was never really given his chance at Arsenal, interestingly enough though we can (if we choose) buy him back at any point.

The fans love Vela in Spain

Denilson has also extended his loan to Sau Paulo for another season. However, if we get any permanent offers from other clubs, we can recall him.

Players linked to us.

M’Vila is the player ‘everyone’ is talking about currently. Unless you haven’t read any Arsenal news you’ll hear a variety of opinions… ‘the deal’s on’ ‘he’s moving to inter’ ‘Arsenal have pulled out’ … so many contrasting views.

From what I’ve heard before the Euros we had a very good deal in place to sign him, paying around £13 million up front rising to £17million with add ons. However, Rennes (and the player) thought that with a good euros an auction could be started forcing the price up. His tournament was very disappointing and leaving the pitch in a strop, in his final game, didn’t help to attract any suitors. It seems Arsenal are now playing a similar game to that of Barcelona and Fabregas last year: knowing they are the only team in for the player, therefore pushing the price down.

He will be an Arsenal player though, don’t worry. A top quality player as well.

We’ve enquired about Fernando Llorente of Bilbao, as a replacement for Van Persie when he leaves. (an assumption on when, but I very much doubt he’ll stay.) I’ll remain pessimistic on us signing a player of Llorente’s qualities, however. That would be a fifa-esque front line if we got him!

A player we’re also back in for is Santi Carzorla of Malaga. We almost got him last summer as our replacement for Cesc, but money bags Malaga came in and we all know Arsenal don’t do bidding wars. A cracking signing, if we can pull it off.

Outgoings

We’re attempting to ship out many players: Park Chu-Young, Sébastien Squillaci, Johan Djourou, Lukasz Fabianski, Marouane Chamakh, Nicklas Bendtner and Andrei Arshavin.

The HUGE issue with this is the unbelievably inexplicable salaries we offer to our mediocre players. Bendtner is on £52,000 a week, Squillaci £50,000, Park Chu-Young £40,000, Arshavin £80,000.

Here’s a direct quote from Fiorentina’s sporting director Daniele Prade:

“Have we made an offer for Chamakh? We have not made one because he earns three million euros (per season).”

Bendtner should be on his way out soon, though. His good euros helped us massively and he has a few clubs interested. Expect movement in the next few weeks.

I’m not even going to touch on Van Persie, you’re no doubt sick of it already. He’ll be leaving, there you go.

That’s all for now. See you soon!