19 Aug 2014 10:45:53
So, bit of chatter on here around the no signing of Cesc. You've obviously all been waiting patiently to here my opinion on it. Cesc is best at either AM, or b2b CM. Presently, those positions are occupied in our starting XI by Ramsey and Ozil. As good as Cesc is, I'd happily take Mesut at AM and Aaron at CM over him every time. With Cesc being the quality player that he is, I highly doubt he would be happy to ride the pine playing a backup role. Therefore, it was absolutely the right decision not to sign him. From there, his choice of club, is none of our business. However, I find it interesting that Cesc likes to claim he's a Gooner, and seems adored by a lot of Arsenal faithful, still. Does a Gooner refuse to play in an effort to force a move away? Would a true Gooner ever think of putting on that horrible blue shirt? I don't begrudge him playing for Chelsea, any more or less than I begrudge Hazard for going there over us. Or, Jovetic for choosing City over us. I do however, find it irritating when the same people that choose to slate RVP, or Nasri, or Sagna, go on about their undying love for Cesc. They're all simply, former Arsenal players, who decided to leave the club when the club wanted them to stay. Our squad is strong, we didn't have room for Cesc and couldn't really give a capybara's behind about other teams players. Bring on Besiktas, COYG!

1.) 19 Aug 2014
19 Aug 2014 11:11:53
Couldn't agree more, we signed a player that Madrid wanted to keep as opposed to a player Barca wanted to get rid of.

He seemed a little embarrassed when asked about playing for Chelsea last night.

There is little doubting he will do well at Chelsea but that's not a concern of ours, it's what we do here that is the single most important thing.

He is not of the class of Ozil or Ramsey. Good player but you have to factor in it was against Burnley. Hmmm.

Similar to Herrera at United, raving about him being a worldie playing against LA as soon as he's up against a premiership side he's subbed off for Fellaini after 60 minutes. Not saying he's in the class of Cesc but to many get bent out of shape about stuff like this.

2.) 19 Aug 2014
I thought I was over Cesc until he played that pass for Schurrles goal. Beautiful pass.

3.) 19 Aug 2014
19 Aug 2014 11:23:29
You're dead right about Cesc vs RVP/Nasri etc. He showed his colours when he walked out and they weren't red.

Would I have had him back? Of course. He's an extraordinary talent.

Why did he go to chelsea?
What other options did he have. We wouldn't take him. United City and Madrid were all off the table as they'd be the grandest insults to his former clubs. Italy is a dying league and Pep doesn't like Cesc so Munich were out.

He wanted London not Chelsea.

I do think not taking him back though will be one of Wenger's greatest failings.

But if he was such a gunner he wouldn't have stopped at no. He'd have halved his wage demands until Wenger took him back

4.) 19 Aug 2014
Remember guys, we all loved cesc but he was out injured a lot in the EPL as he is a bit 'lightweight'. Granted, I would have loved to see him back in an arsenal shirt but there must be a reason Barca let him go?

We have too many options in midfield and having him back would have meant dropping Ramsey, OX, Cazorla, JW10 OR Ozil, there simply wouldn't have been enough room for him.

Although it was sickening to see him in a Chelski shirt our money would be better spent on a world class striker

5.) 19 Aug 2014
19 Aug 2014 12:24:37
Decent post outback. Cesc doesn't fit our plans any more, and when he left we were building a team around him. I understand his reasons for leaving, but nonetheless, he left. And I'm not one for checking out how pretty another mans wife is all the time either. I'm liking the core of our squad.

6.) 19 Aug 2014
Sheeny Fabregas moving to Chelsea had NOTHING to do with wages. Wenger felt he had Ramsey as a box to box midfielder along with Wilshere. He also knew he had Cazorla and Ozil for the number 10 position.

This is about Wenger, and I quote, "Not wanting to kill the careers of current Arsenal players."

7.) 19 Aug 2014
19 Aug 2014 12:48:12
Good point Sheeny, or maybe, he didn't fancy sitting on the bench behind Mesut and Ramsey. Would be the best bench option in the premier league, but, that's all he'd have been for us, barring injury. Says a lot that he wouldn't make our starting 11, considering Chelsea are most people's pick to win the league. He didn't have much resistance getting a starting gig there. He'd have competition just to make our bench, with Jack, Diaby, Ox and Santi.

8.) 19 Aug 2014
As much as I love Rambo and he was immense last season I would take Cesc over any of our midfield he is a world cup, European cup winner who has proven himself as one of the best in the prem, let's remember he left us for his boyhood club and we agreed to sell.

I don't mind him playing for Chelsea as after we said we don't want him then really he can go where he likes but I do believe that we should have got him back,

I know we are all sticking by arsenal and our players but let's be honest and say if we had got him back our team would have been stronger and we would all be sat here with huge smiles on our faces.

That being said Rambo is younger and has the potential to do all that cesc did for the club and more, so i'm not worried.

Let hope arsenal address the defence issues we have (numbers not quality) and add rues or cavani (yes i'm still dreaming) and then let's go win the league and stick the middle finger up to Chelsea and city.

9.) 19 Aug 2014
Great Post, couldn't agree more!
I think its also important to think about the teams around them, yes Cesc will help Chelsea with assists and goals as he is a great player, but would he help us with goals and assists, considering our team, not to the same extent. So instead of buying a player just so Chelsea can't get him it is much more worthwhile buying a player in a position we need to ensure our team is better than Chelsea's. Yes he is excellent signing for Chelsea, but would he have been an excellent signing for us. No.

10.) 19 Aug 2014
19 Aug 2014 13:57:04
Fantastic answer YYC.

pretty much sums it up for me.

11.) 19 Aug 2014
The "love in" for Cesc will disappear pretty quick when he scores a goal then kisses the badge on that horrid blue shirt. Then he will be the biggest see you next tuesday!

12.) 19 Aug 2014
While I will agree with most and I also believe it was the correct option not to take him back. the fact is if he did come back he would not be sitting on the bench.

Ramsey is my current favourite Arsenal player and has become pretty much undroppable. Ozil with Madrid wasa genius but if we are to be honest about it, Fabregas looked better than ozil last night incomparison to ozils season gone by, now i'm not saying he's a better player than ozil because ozil was the best playmaker in Europe in his last season with Madrid registering more key passes than anyone else.

Its as simple as this, if we bought fabregas he would play week in week out, he would have moved ozil out to the flanks where he has played before.

I do believe that Fabregas wanted the Arsenal move. After all his family is still in London.

Wenger knew he needed players in other positons and put the team first over his heavy heart. Which every great manager does. As we do not have the financial power to buy fabregas and alexis. Arsene did right by the club, but I beleive it will be something we will regret

{Ed025's Note - as i hear it JK the money he wanted would have smashed the salary barrier at arsenal, so although he is an excellent player, the club probably made the right decision imo mate..

13.) 19 Aug 2014
19 Aug 2014 16:39:07
Rocky,

"See you next Tuesday"

What have I missed?

Is there a cool gang club meeting?:-)

14.) 19 Aug 2014
I heard that too Ed025, I agreed it was the best move for the club, its just people were saying he would be sitting on the bench if we did buy him. The man has 91 caps for the best International Midfield the world has ever seen. I know te wages were an issue but on pure football terms there is no question he would start on this Arsenal team.

Thanks for the reply, and the page is top notch

15.) 19 Aug 2014
We've already had it Dags

whoops

16.) 19 Aug 2014
Think about it dags. :)

17.) 19 Aug 2014
LOL

Oh come Dags

Catch up