Transfer news...

Transfer news...

[h=4]Series: Rumour Mill[/h] Previous | Index

[h=1]Football transfer rumours: Nicklas Bendtner to never return to Arsenal?[/h] Today's rumours are Rocky Balboa




  • Evan Fanning
  • guardian.co.uk, Friday 2 September 2011 09.09 BST Article history
    Nicklas-Bendtner-007.jpg
    Nicklas Bendtner is as mad as hell and not going to take it any more. Well, from Arsenal, at least. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

    It's time to go back on the road. Thursday 1 September may have been a day to watch the tumbleweed blow past but Friday 2 September is when it all starts again.
    Like the heavyweight boxer going on that first, lonely, dawn run a few short days after the glamour of the Vegas prize-fight, these are the moments when the work is done.
    Sure, anyone can be there when the helicopters are landing in Stoke, or when Alan Hutton is being driven up and down the M6 wondering if he should take the toll or not. That, ladies and gentleman, is the glory but these are the hard yards. No pain, no gain.
    Without days like today there is no deadline day. There is no Breaking News Ticker on the status of Shaun Maloney's medical at Wigan. Gary Cotterill would be interviewing old ladies who have seen a manifestation of their cat's face in a slice of bread. There would be no Jim White. Perhaps we should have stayed in bed after all.
    But on the road we go. And look what we've found on our way ...
    A hat must be doffed in the direction of Carlos Tevez and his adviser Kia Joorabchian for their summer of negotiation, the end result of which is that Tevez passed on the City captaincy to Vincent Kompany and his place in the team to Sergio Agüero. But all is not lost.
    "He has managed to convince his wife to come over to Manchester for a while at least," Joorabchian revealed. "If she manages to settle in hopefully in the next four or five months, maybe he will settle down and things will be fine."
    The Mill is no expert on these things but we're pretty sure that in a few weeks Mrs Tevez is going to turn to her husband and say, 'Carlos, dear, why is it that we only ever eat in the same two restaurants?'
    She may have to get used to that but it could have been oh so different if, as Joorabchian has claimed, Manchester City had agreed to swap Tevez for Inter's Wesley Sneijder. But they didn't.
    Good news for Arsenal fans. Nicklas Bendtner has vowed never to go back to the Emirates. 'NEVER,' he screamed before slamming the door and shouting 'I hate you'.
    When the striker calmed down he gave some quotes in which he suggested that Arsène Wenger never gave him an opportunity after he crashed his Aston Martin two years ago.
    "If I can have it my way, I will never play for them again," he sobbed. "After my car accident I never really got the chance to earn a spot in the first team. That is over 1½ years with no real chance to prove myself. I am really looking forward to playing for Sunderland and then we will see next summer. I will find a new club — but I will not go back to Arsenal, that's for sure."
    The Everton manager David Moyes will be given a sizeable war-chest in January. He'll also be given some money to spend on new players. His priorities, it says here, will be a midfielder and a striker which would probably make sense seeing as he waved goodbye to a midfielder and two strikers on Wednesday before sitting down on his couch, turning to his wife and saying 'I think they had a nice time here, do you?'
    Paris-Saint Germain have "pencilled in a January move for Napoli's Marek Hamsik". They're willing to throw in a lifetime's supply of hair gel to seal the deal.
    The Juventus left-back Reto Ziegler could be set to move Fenerbahce this week. The Turkish transfer window doesn't close until 5 September so there's still time. There's still time. Moyes could also take advantage of the extended Turkish window by selling "wantaway" defender Joseph Yobo also to Fenerbahce, who are clearly hanging around the transfer window after closing time to see if any good-looking players are going home alone.
    Many, many people are happy with how things worked out for the over the summer, which is good because often there isn't enough time for happiness in the professional football world what with all the snarling and the shouting and the come-and-get-me-pleas.
    Sneijder is happy to have stayed at Inter rather than join Manchester United. "I love the club, but also the Italian culture and the people," he said. "It fits with me. Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world, so it didn't seem a bad thing. But at the same time I don't want to leave Inter."
    Elsewhere, Scott Dann is "delighted" with his move to Blackburn, Craig Bellamy is "buzzing" after his return to Anfield. Royston Drenthe "has the skills" to be a star at Everton and Shaun Wright-Phillips is "ready to have a laugh with Joey Barton".
    Oh, and David Cotterill is looking for a loan move away from Swansea with Watford a possible destination.
    We warned you this wasn't going to be easy.

 
[h=1]Villa complete double raid on Spurs[/h] Published 23:35 31/08/11 By MirrorFootball

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...Hutton-and-Jermaine-Jenas-article794027.html#
alan-hutton-tottenham-spurs-cropped


Aston Villa have completed deadline-day deals for Scotland full-back Alan Hutton and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas, both from Tottenham.
Former Rangers defender Hutton 26, has agreed a permanent move to Villa park, signing a contract through to 2015 while Jenas has joined on loan for the rest of the season.
A statement on Villa's official website www.avfc.co.uk from manager Alex McLeish said: "Alan is a player whom I know well. He is an athletic full-back in his mid-20s - a very good age - and he has a lot of experience playing at a high level, both internationally with Scotland and with Rangers and Tottenham which are big clubs.
"So he fits the bill in terms of having the right temperament to be an important and influential player for Villa.

"Jermaine is a dynamic midfield player and I feel he will add to the quality of the squad as well. He also has played at a very high level and I'm sure he will be relishing this opportunity."
Villa earlier confirmed they reached an agreement with Shamrock Rovers to sign Republic of Ireland Under-21 international defender Enda Stevens in January.
Stevens, 21, was part of the team that beat Partizan Belgrade to reach the Europa League group stages and will remain with Shamrock until the new year.
He said: "This is massive for me. It's a dream come true. I never expected it to come as soon as it has, especially after the last few games in Europe.
"I grew up following and watching the Premier League and I can dream of playing in it now. Villa have had some great Irish players and been very good for Irish players. I'm a player who likes to get forward, can defend and I like to play football. I like to get the ball down and play."



​
 
[h=1]Sunderland snap up Bendtner[/h] Published 23:27 31/08/11 By MirrorFootball

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...tner-from-Arsenal-on-loan-article794024.html#
arsenal-nicklas-bendtner-cropped


Sunderland boss Steve Bruce finally got his man tonight when he clinched a season-long loan deal for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.
The 23-year-old has clinched a temporary move to the Stadium of Light after being told he was not part of Arsene Wenger's plans.
Bruce will hope he will bring the goals his side has been lacking to date this season and provide a foil for Asamoah Gyan, who himself was the subject of interest from Turkey during the final days of the transfer window.
The deal re-unites a player and a manager who worked together during their time at Birmingham.

Bruce said: "I've had the privilege of working with Nicklas previously. I had him as an 18 year-old and he helped clinch promotion for Birmingham.
"He's an outstanding talent and is a big, physical presence who will lead the line magnificently for us."
Bendtner is the third frontman to arrive at the club this summer following the captures of youngsters Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-won, who Bruce believes will be big players for the club in the years to come.
However, he was keen to recruit more experience after seeing his side score just once in the opening four games of the season, a run which has seen them draw in the Barclays Premier League at Liverpool and Swansea and lose to arch-rivals Newcastle as well as npower Championship Brighton in the Carling Cup.
Bendtner made his Gunners debut as a teenager against the Black Cats in a League Cup tie in 2005, but has struggled to command a regular place in the starting line-up at the Emirates Stadium.
He has won 38 senior caps for Denmark and scored 12 goals.
Bendtner becomes Sunderland's 11th summer signing with the previous 10 all having arrived on permanent deals.
Sunderland has earlier targeted a permanent signing as they explored deals for Freiburg's Papiss Demba Cisse and Wolfsburg's Patrick Helmes among others, but they set tongues wagging yesterday when they made a second concerted bid to take England international Peter Crouch to the Stadium of Light.
However, the Tottenham frontman once again failed to take the bait and the Black Cats turned to Bendtner as the clock ran down.



​
 
[h=1]Chelsea seal shock swoop for £12m Meireles[/h] Published 23:12 31/08/11 By Martin Lipton

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...reles-deal-with-Liverpool-article794020.html#
raul-meireles-liverpool-cropped


Chelsea made a deadline-beating Portuguese signing - but not the one their fans expected.
Andre Villas-Boas had hoped to land Uruguay defender Alvaro Pereira from his former club Porto, lining up a £22million deal.
But when Porto simply refused to drop their £26.5m asking price - amid claims it was an act of revenge for their capture of Villas-Boas - Chelsea completed the last-gasp £12m signing of Liverpool's Raul Meireles on a four-year deal.
Chelsea switched targets after their final bid for Luka Modric of £30m plus Brazilian defender Alex was turned down flat by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

They initially offered Liverpool £7m plus Yossi Benayoun for the Portuguese midfielder, but switched to a straight cash deal when the Israeli schemer was sent to Arsenal on loan.
Meireles, frustrated at dropping down the Anfield pecking order after the summer arrivals of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing, then made a formal transfer request, easing his exit.
And with the transfer deadline nearing, the two clubs agreed the deal, reuniting Meireles with the manager who sold him for £11.5m 12 months ago.
Meireles, 28, scored five goals for Liverpool last season, including the winner which overshadowed Fernando Torres' Chelsea debut in February, but lost his status after Kenny Dalglish's summer spree.
***
Transfer deadline day deals at-a-glance
Who's in and who's out at YOUR club? Every Prem League deal of the summer so far
Transfer deadline day deals at-a-glance


Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register here
​
 
[h=1]Arsenal seal late transfer-window signing of Everton's Mikel Arteta[/h] • Arteta agrees to pay cut to secure move from Everton
• Arsène Wenger also lands Yossi Benayoun on loan




  • David Hytner and Dominic Fifield
  • guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 31 August 2011 22.20 BST Article history
    mikel-arteta-007.jpg
    Mikel Arteta, celebrating his winner at Blackburn last week, had asked to leave Everton, weakening the club's bargaining position. Photograph: Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

    Arsène Wenger completed the £10m signing of Mikel Arteta in the final moments of the transfer window, after the midfielder told Everton that he wanted to leave for Arsenal and he was willing to take a pay cut to make it happen.
    Wenger has endured a torrid summer, having lost Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri against his wishes to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively, and his team slumped 8-2 at Manchester United on Sunday to leave them with one point from their first three Premier League matches.
    But the capture of Arteta, which was accompanied by a season-long loan deal for Chelsea's Yossi Benayoun, provided the club's supporters with a much needed tonic. Earlier on deadline day, Wenger had confirmed the signings of the Brazil left-back André Santos from Fenerbahce for £6.2m and Werder Bremen's Germany centre-half Per Mertesacker for £7.6m.
    The final day of the window saw several eye-catching deals, including Liverpool taking back Craig Bellamy from City on a two-year deal and the Merseyside club moving Joe Cole to Lille on a season-long loan and selling Raul Meireles to Chelsea for £12m, after the Portugal midfielder had put in a transfer request. Tottenham signed Scott Parker for £5.5m from West Ham United, failed in a late move for Bolton Wanderers' Gary Cahill and sold Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios to Stoke City for a combined fee of £20m.
    Yet it was the drama over Arteta that provided the major talking point. Arsenal had enraged Everton with an opening offer of £5m, which was laughed out of Goodison Park and when they returned with £10m, it was still too low. Wenger had previously shown an interest in the Everton centre-half Phil Jagielka, for whom he was quoted £20m, and it was made clear that Arteta was rated in a similar bracket.
    But the situation turned abruptly when Arteta asked to leave, having had his head turned by Arsenal's interest and the chance to play Champions League football with them. Everton felt powerless to keep him and they were forced to accept the £10m. "Mikel indicated to me that he wished to join Arsenal," said the manager, David Moyes. "I am very disappointed to lose him but the prospect of Champions League football was something I wasn't able to offer him."
    Everton felt no little frustration, and not only because of the size of the fee. They could not understand why Arsenal had waited until the deadline day to make their move for a player that Wenger had long coveted, particularly as they had taken £35m for Fábregas two weeks ago. Nasri's £24m transfer to City went through last week. Arteta signed a five-year contract at Goodison last summer, worth £75,000 a week, which made him the highest paid player in the club's history. He accepted less to smooth his transfer to Arsenal on a four-year contract.
    Everton have also sold Yakubu to Blackburn Rovers for £2m and Jermaine Beckford to Leicester City for a performance-related £4m. They have taken Royston Drenthe from Real Madrid and the Argentina striker Denis Stracqualursi from Tigres on season-long loans.
    Arsenal's spend on players was £51.4m but they exited the window having moved on more bodies at a cost of £73.4m. Nicklas Bendtner was the most high-profile departure on deadline day, the striker securing a season-long loan to Sunderland, but Wenger also loaned out Henri Lansbury to West Ham United for the season and sold Gilles Sunu to Lorient. One of Wenger's signings, the Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell, has been sent on a season's loan to Lorient, after Arsenal decided against applying for his work permit.
    Chelsea's willingness to allow Benayoun to move to Arsenal is a reflection that the Israeli was unlikely to be included in their squad for the Champions League group stage. He departs despite the manager Andre Villas-Boas being thwarted in his pursuit of both Tottenham's Luka Modric and Alvaro Pereira, with the latter's mooted move effectively scuppered after Porto refused to drop their valuation of the player. The Uruguay international's buy-out clause stands at ¤30m (£27.5m), but Chelsea indicated early in the negotiations that they would be unwilling to meet that amount.
    The frustration at the breakdown was voiced by one of Pereira's representatives, Flavio Perchman, who was quoted in Portugal suggesting Porto's stance was a legacy of Villas-Boas's defection to Stamford Bridge over the summer. "Unfortunately, talks have collapsed," said Perchman, an associate of Pereira's agent, Alejandro Savich. "Porto did not honour their word because, last year, they promised to sell Alvaro if an offer upwards of ¤20m was tabled. Chelsea offered more than that. I think they are trying to use Alvaro to get back at Chelsea about Villas-Boas. No-one pays ¤30m for a full-back – not even Roberto Carlos cost that."
    Chelsea granted Patrick van Aanholt and Gael Kakuta season-long loan deals at Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers respectively.

 
[h=1]Mikel Arteta: lure of Champions League impossible to resist with Arsenal[/h] • Arsenal snatch Arteta in late £10m deal
• Arteta sorry to leave Everton after six-and-a-half years




  • Press Association
  • guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 September 2011 10.36 BST Article history
    Mikel-Arteta-007.jpg
    Mikel Arteta celebrates his final goal in an Everton shirt, the winner from the spot at Blackburn last Saturday. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images

    Mikel Arteta has revealed that he was tempted to leave Everton by the promise of Champions League football.
    After completing a £10m deadline day move the Spanish midfielder said: 'It is a big challenge, a different challenge, fresh for me and I want to see myself on the biggest stage, the Champions League. I am 29 years old so I haven't got much time left to take a chance like this one. I think I have done my best for Everton.'
    Arteta joined Arsenal on a four year contract but admitted he would be sorry to leave Everton after six-and-a-half years. He added: "It is very difficult to say goodbye. I still can't believe it but at the same time I think it is the right moment for everyone.
    "That is the way football is – there is always a start and an end and today is the end of probably the best time of my career. I am never going to forget it. Obviously I am never going to forget what I have done here and what the people and this club have done for me."

 
[h=2]Bulgaria v England, Euro 2012 Group G qualifier, 7:15pm[/h] [h=1]Ashley Young emerges from the fog to give England a winger windfall[/h] Manchester United's adaptable summer signing looks to have provided Fabio Capello with a clearer picture on the flanks



  • Paul Hayward
  • guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 September 2011 23.00 BST Article history
    Ashley-Young-has-the-air--007.jpg
    Ashley Young, of Manchester United and England, has the air of a hunter who does not settle for a spectating role. Photograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

    Ashley Young was hired to succeed Ryan Giggs at Manchester United but with England there are no legends to replace. Wide boys, yes, but no wide men of Giggs's stature. The task of pinning down an automatic starting place in Fabio Capello's first XI is less daunting than becoming a United regular.
    At Old Trafford they know the difference between a new player who shrivels on their stage and one who responds as if born to thrive on pressure. On the evidence so far the more expectation that is piled on Young the better he reacts. "I always had belief," he said in an interview when he was still at Aston Villa. That kind of conviction was apparent in his work in United's 8-2 victory over Arsenal on Sunday.
    By a quirk, two of England's best hopes are sons of Stevenage. The birthplace of Jack Wilshere was also the entry point to football for Young, who learned the game chiefly as a striker. For club and country he is a wide attacker who drifts in, from the left, and is a danger through the centre, sometimes in the withdrawn striker's position.
    The auditions along England's flanks have been endless and often disappointing. Over the past three seasons openings have come for Stewart Downing, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott, James Milner, Adam Johnson, Matt Jarvis and David Bentley. None has presented a consistently inarguable case for inclusion. With his form for United, Young can emerge from this fog not only to be England's senior winger but a menace in other roles when the attacking shape allows him to leave the touchline.
    Told at 16 he would not be offered a youth contract by Watford, Young pictured , later reflected: "It's a case of whether you have the right attitude and belief in your own ability to turn it around. Say to yourself you believe in the ability you have, and show people you deserve to be given a chance." He was and has risen ever since.
    Temperament is a perennial issue in England's wide positions. Too many England wingers have displayed timidity or lack the concentration to deliver a piercing final ball. Bursts of creative endeavour followed by long spells of inactivity have been conspicuous on the international stage. Young, though, has the air of a hunter who finds ways to involve himself in forward play when others might settle for a spectating role.
    His emergence as England prepare to face Bulgaria and Wales brings another benefit. It took Gary Neville, who retired shortly before Young arrived at United, to confirm the big open secret of the last 10 years. Young should win his 16th cap against Bulgaria. Neville, who made 85 appearances, writes in his memoirs, Red: "There have been times when I've reflected on my international career and just thought: 'Well, that was a massive waste of time.'
    "It should be fantastic, the best moments of your life. But there is no doubt that too many players spend too much time fearing the consequence of failure when they pull on an England shirt. They are caught between these massive expectations and the reality of being good, sometimes very good, but probably not of tournament-winning quality."
    This accurate and honest confession shows the depth of fatalism in England camps from 1998-2010 and the nadir of South Africa. But once the truth session is out of the way, England have to find a way beyond pessimism and introspection. After the 4-1 defeat to Germany in Bloemfontein, Capello turned his face away from youth, suggesting instead that the group of players who had dug the hole would have to find a way back out.
    This was a misreading of the mood and culture inside his squad. Only by promoting younger players who were not infected by years of institutionalised failure could Capello hope to restore the edge and appetite to his listless team. Joe Hart and Wilshere were the first two up the line. They have since been joined by Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Gary Cahill, Andy Carroll and Young, who is 26 and approaching maturity.
    The word is that Walcott impressed in England training on Wednesday. But Walcott has damage to put right. His recently published book portrayed Capello as a bully. "I told him – I prefer you as a player than as a writer," Capello said last week. So it would be perverse if Walcott dislodged Young in Sofia on the back of an energetic training-ground display.
    Capello's eulogy for United's new faces came after the resounding wins over Spurs and Arsenal. He now talks like an international manager who has received an unexpected windfall.
    In Young he has taken delivery of an adaptable winger/forward who has landed in the big time and intends to stick around.

 
[TABLE="class: contentpaneopen"]
[TR]
[TD="class: contentheading, width: 100%"]Nyota Stars: Njooni muone mauaji [/TD]
[TD="class: buttonheading, width: 100%, align: right"] Send to a friend [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: contentpaneopen"]
[TR]
[TD="class: createdate"] Thursday, 01 September 2011 20:22 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 0digg

34samatta.jpg
Mbwana Samata

Calvin Kiwia
NYOTA wa Tanzania wanaocheza soka la kulipwa nje ya nchi wamewataka mashabiki na wadau wote wa soka kujitokeza kwa wingi kesho kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa na kuwapa sapoti ya kutosha kwani wamekuja kivingine na kuahidi ushindi mkubwa dhidi ya Algeria.

Nyota hao saba ni Nizar Khalfan (Vancouver WhiteCaps, Canada), Danny Mrwanda na Abdi Kassim (Don Long, Vietnam), Mbwana Samata (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Henry Joseph, Athuman Machupa na Idrissa Rajabu (Sofapaka, Kenya).

Pambano hilo la kusaka tiketi ya kushiriki fainali za Mataifa ya Afrika nchini Gabon na Guinea ya Ikweta mwakani litapigwa kesho jioni kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jijini Dar es Salaam.

Katika mchezo wa kwanza uliofanyika mjini Algers mwezi Machi mwaka huu Taifa Stars iliilazimisha sare ya 1-1 Algeria ikiwa ugenini.

Wakizungumza na gazeti hili kwa nyakati tofauti baadhi ya nyota hao jana walisema uwezo wa Tanzania kuifunga Algeria upo kulingana na mchezo wa awali waliocheza nayo mjini Algers, ambapo mchezo huo ulimalizika kwa sare ya bao 1-1.

NIZAR KHALFAN (Vancouver WhiteCaps, Canada )
"Tumejipanga kushinda pambano hilo na kurudisha matumaini kwa Tanzania kushiriki fainali za Mataifa ya Afrika hapo mwakani kwenye nchi za Gabon na Guinea Ikweta."

"Siafiki hata chembe kuwa nafasi ya Tanzania kufuzu fainali za Mataifa ya Afrika ni finyu, nadhani hizo ni fikra zao tu."

"Nafikiri mashabiki wajitokeze kwa wingi uwanjani kutusapoti hakika tutafanya kazi na kuifunga Algeria kwenye pambano hilo," alisema Nizar.

DANNY MRWANDA (Don Long ,Vietnam)
"Sitaki kusikia kabisa kauli ya Tanzania ina nafasi finyu ya kukata tiketi ya kushiriki fainali za Mataifa ya Afrika mwakani,"

"Nafasi bado tunayo kama tutashinda michezo miwili iliyosalia dhidi ya Algeria kesho na vinara Morocco mwezi Oktoba tutafikisha pointi 10 ambazo zitatupeleka moja kwa moja hatua ya makundi ya fainali za Mataifa ya Afrika,"

"Tunafahamu kazi kubwa imebaki kwetu wachezaji kupigana na kuhakikisha tunaishinda Algeria na baadaye Morocco ili kufanikisha ndoto zetu za kushiriki fainali za Mataifa ya Afrika," alisema Mrwanda.

HENRY JOSEPH (Kongsvinger IF, Norway)
"Tunacheza tukiwa uwanja wa nyumbani tunatarajia kupata sapoti kubwa kutoka kwa mashabiki kitu ambacho kitatufanya kucheza kwa kujituma zaidi na bila kuchoka."

"Tulicheza na Algeria mchezo wa awali kwao sio timu ya kutisha sana ya kawaida, kama tutacheza kwa kujituma na kutumia nafasi tutakazotengeneza basi ushindi kwetu lazima,"

"Kikubwa ni kucheza kitimu zaidi na kufuata maelekezo yote ya mwalimu, Jan Poulsen ambayo amekuwa akitupatia takribani wiki mbili hizi," alisema Henry.

Tanzania inashikilia nafasi ya tatu katika kundi D ikiwa na pointi nne baada ya kucheza michezo minne ikipata ushindi dhidi ya Afrika ya Kati wa mabao 2-1 uliochezwa Tanzania na kutoka sare ya bao 1-1 na Algeria ugenini huku ikipoteza na Morocco nyumbani kwa bao 1-0 na Afrika ya Kati ugenini 2-1. [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 

[h=1] [/h]


[h=1]Football Weekly Extra: Arteta to Arsenal and other deadline deals[/h] The podders analyse all the ins and outs as the transfer window closes. Plus, a look forward to the Euro 2012 qualifiers




 
[h=2]Comments in chronological order (Total 194 comments)[/h] Post a comment
  • icons_staff_16.gif
    Staff
  • icons_contributor_16.gif
    Contributor










  • 60x60.png
    HK1234 1 September 2011 4:55PM

    I can't believe Arsenal got £2m for Armand Traore. I thought we'd have to give him away.
    I hope Rafa talks about Per on the pod.


  • no-user-image.gif
    KingKakuta 1 September 2011 4:56PM

    Chelsea - £40m + Alex for Modric! Are you mental?! Losing a defender we desperately need and paying over the odds for a player who has had one good season! Crazy!


  • no-user-image.gif
    leemarvinismyhero 1 September 2011 4:58PM

    he left it long enough. so did Daglish force Meireles to hand in a transfer request just so Meireles could get a move? why not let him go if he didnt want him?
    why wud he do that? so looks good in the fans eyes? or looks good in the meedja's eyes? not Kenny though he doesnt give a fook what the media thinks surely.
    all of the above is speculation.


  • 60x60.png
    Butterfinger550 1 September 2011 5:01PM

    "Arsenal letting themselves go in a last minute orgy of signing shame"
    Ad lib > Ortis Deley's presenting masterclass.


  • 60x60.png
    HK1234 1 September 2011 5:04PM

    Benayoun won't start for Arsenal. He'll be on the bench for most matches.


  • 60x60.png
    scouseinthailand 1 September 2011 5:05PM

    Meireles was my fave player. I blame Levy for not ripping that money out of Chelsea`s mitts. Well done. You`ll have a player mooch around not trying and be lucky to raise 20 mill for him in January. ( bitter sobs !! )


  • 60x60.png
    chunt89 1 September 2011 5:06PM

    Cameron Jerome described as a 'superstar striker' on SSN yesterday. Oh please



  • no-user-image.gif
    PDaddy 1 September 2011 5:07PM

    Royston Drenthe! I can't wait to see him in the Premier League. Two weeks until the press label him a 'character' (although Shearer's probably never heard of him). Baines and Drenthe on the left flank is a brilliant combination. Shame that Everton don't have a proper striker to get on the end of their deliveries...





  • 60x60.png
    HK1234 1 September 2011 5:14PM

    what has happened to the ligue un weekly blog?!?!?!
    ​
    Yes, has the Guardian stopped the blog? Has Ben Lyttleton got the sack?


  • 60x60.png
    Pateau 1 September 2011 5:14PM

    Continuing his blistering form, Adriano Galliani picks up the very serviceable Antonio Nocerino for 1 million euros and a plate of gnocchi. Great last minute replacement for the injured Flamini. Rumours are that he's already secured Montolivo on a Bosman next year as well.


  • 60x60.png
    boltring 1 September 2011 5:19PM

    mertesacker part of a back four that let in 61 goals in the bundesliga last season. fernando says 'One has really got to question the sanity of Arsenal's scouts with the news Andre Santos is a transfer target...' and looking at clips of him playing i can see why. Benayoun we'll probably see little enough of, while we have to wait and see if Arteta's injuries are as serious as some have suggested. Anyone know how good/bad the south korean is? not very encouraging....


  • no-user-image.gif
    Kneeslider 1 September 2011 5:19PM

    anyone else think the arse have paid over the odds for arteta?
    ​
    But as ever the value of a player in not based on a given like weight. Its a unique thing to a unique situation at a unique time hence thats why all this "if he is worth this then he is worth that bla bla" is stupid and junk padding out pods and newspapers. The value of a player is that respect can only be done retrospectively and thats no use is it?


  • no-user-image.gif
    Shomsysgiants 1 September 2011 5:19PM

    Sad to see Meireles leave, but he is always going off injured in games and given our lack of European footie + Gerros return (hopefully not another injury plagued season) + his age we will prob get by without him?
    Other than that it is the first time in years that I have looked at a Liverpool squad and not thought that about 5 of the players are useless deadweight - i.e. no Biscan, Traore, Poulsen, Jovanovic I could go on for days....


  • 60x60.png
    Battledore 1 September 2011 5:20PM

    Had these Arsenal signings come way back in June I would be decidedly underwhelmed. Coming two weeks into a calamitous looking season one has to be a little pleased. As for Wenger...
    He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them
    Kind regards,
    B



  • 60x60.png
    IngmarBergkamp 1 September 2011 5:25PM

    mertesacker part of a back four that let in 61 goals in the bundesliga last season.
    ​
    And the Bolton back four, including Gary Cahill, conceded 56 goals in the Premier league last season. Hardly a massive difference,
    Apparently he's worth 17 million.


  • 60x60.png
    DavidWheatersChin 1 September 2011 5:27PM

    i live in korea and the guys at my school hate the korean forward. one of the quotes in broken english describing park chu young was "average"
    i mean £1.9 on a 26 yr old forward should indicate how good he is - leroy lita cost nearly the same albeit with an english premium!



  • 60x60.png
    HK1234 1 September 2011 5:29PM

    Per Mertesacker has said that he is delighted to have joined Arsenal despite watching his new team lose 8-2 to Manchester United at the weekend.
    The German defender has supported the north London side since he was a teenager, and found it hard to stomach the defeat against United. "I watched that game and I wasn't too delighted,"
    ​
    ****ing hell he watched the 8-2 match. Mertesacker must've been desperate to sign for the Arsenal.


  • 60x60.png
    sujay7pires 1 September 2011 5:34PM

    mertesacker part of a back four that let in 61 goals in the bundesliga last season.
    ​
    I'm sorry but playing along with Prodl and Silvestre is it a surprise that Bremen let in 61 goals? Mertesacker is one man and blaming him for the team letting in 61 goals is just silly and a bit try hard really.


  • no-user-image.gif
    jimmysten 1 September 2011 5:35PM

    Sad to see Arteta go, but he hasn't been the same since 2008. Too slow, not enough goals, set pieces never beating the first man.
    £10 million doesn't seem like a lot for him, especially as nearly all of it will go to Barclays, however, it also means we save £70k p/w, which if you include the money saved from Yakubu and Beckfords wages, it's over half a million a month, about £6 million a year.
    Considering we don't make much money, this is a massive amount (unfortunately)



  • 60x60.png
    sujay7pires 1 September 2011 5:38PM

    DavidWheatersChin
    1 September 2011 5:11PM
    anyone else think the arse have paid over the odds for arteta?
    ​
    - Henderson - 20m
    - Andy effing Carroll - 35m
    - Michael Carrick - 16m
    - Crouch - 10m
    - Adebayor - 25m
    - Lescott - 22m (I think)
    .
    .
    .
    So no, 10m sounds reasonable considering that Everton wanted 20m.



  • 60x60.png
    EggSandwich 1 September 2011 5:43PM

    This time his reaction has been too extreme - he's gone from signing young prospects who aren't ready for first team football to signing experienced players who are past their prime. (Ok, maybe Santos isn't).
    It is telling that the players in their prime are not joining Arsenal.
    Wenger still seems unwilling to spend more than 10m on anything but kids. Oxlade Chamberlain for 12m?



  • 60x60.png
    Ruprict 1 September 2011 5:47PM

    Peter Crouch and Kenwyn Jones. It will be like Romario and Bebeto all over again.


  • 60x60.png
    nicgreaves 1 September 2011 5:48PM

    Wenger letting himself go in a last minute orgy of signing shame.
    We've had probably the most exciting day of the season - deadline day.
    That's laugh-out-loud gold.


  • no-user-image.gif
    Gelion 1 September 2011 5:48PM

    I can't see the Arsenal signings making much of a difference.
    Wenger needs to take the squad on a winning run starting this weekend - or very soon.
    If not, what? Does he stay another season whilst fans try to work out why the players of the calibre of Nasri, Fabregas, Henri, Bergkamp, Overmars etc, are not playing for the gunners anymore?
    The Emirates seems a pointless exercise if Arsenal can't compete for the league.
    Competing for CL places? What's that then? Finish 4th and your season has been a success? Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd would not consider that. Only 10 years ago Arsenal were topping them all ...


  • 60x60.png
    Baccalieri 1 September 2011 5:49PM

    Di Canio will either shoot himself in his locked office after a final day relegation. Or he'll get executed and strung up by some partisan Swindon players in the club's car park.


  • 60x60.png
    Andar23 1 September 2011 5:52PM

    Wow, it sounds like La Liga really needs to get their shit together.


  • no-user-image.gif
    Over4Good 1 September 2011 5:53PM

    Raphael mentioning Dietmar Hamanns bemusement at the English overeation to the 5-1 match is demonstrative of the braindead culture that has pervaded the England football team for years. If he thinks the glorification and instant entry into national mythology of that match was embarrassing then God knows what hed make of a match barely a month later in which we drew to greece which garnered even greater hyperbole and "euphoria" amongst a success-starved nation. At least the 5-1 was a substantial win away against a fellow so-called major footballing country and not a reaction to the cringing desperation to annoint a new celebrity hero merely for tieing at home to a 2nd tier european nation.
    Try as you might, you just cant escape the reality that supporting the England soccer team is an exceedingly naff occupation. I dont know why it is and i thought it might receed somewhat at the ending of the utterly cringing "celebrity/ WAG culture" developed while David Beckham and his ilk were running things but its not much better now. Perhaps its an English thing but then im no self-hater and i have no trouble supporting the English cricket team that displays traits of discipline, endeavour, teamwork, good humour and excellence whilst being humble and not atall arrogant. Why cant i care less about the football team? I really cant figure it.


  • 60x60.png
    Vesuvial 1 September 2011 5:54PM

    Looks like Paul Hayward has moved on transfer deadline day.
    ​
    Looking forward to something more readable then.


  • 60x60.png
    nicgreaves 1 September 2011 5:55PM

    I love Richardson's enthusiasm for Arsenal. It sounds so much like he sees them as a comical car crash.
    Honegstein's analogy was also a thing of beauty.



  • 60x60.png
    Baccalieri 1 September 2011 5:59PM

    Honegstein's analogy was also a thing of beauty.

    ​
    Yeah it was good, slightly Sam Malone.


  • 60x60.png
    AdamMAli 1 September 2011 6:01PM

    Is it me, or have recent shows increased in sneering cynicism of all things Prem League and England?
    Even Jimbo : (


  • 60x60.png
    AdamMAli 1 September 2011 6:05PM

    I thought Journos were supposed to garner the mood of the nation and report it, not tell us how to feel about a particular event, for example, Germany, I wasn't euphoric after that game, merely expectant, but as always, England failed to deliver...
    So don't tell me how to feel, nor would I or anyone with any self respect, celebrate a 10 year old game, which was against an ageing (?) side, or certainly one that had an off day, as the following result against Greece proved.


  • 60x60.png
    hobbitonfc 1 September 2011 6:06PM

    Jimbo should now know that the Italians just shouldn't mess with the Slovaks. First the Azzurri and then with Roma.


 
[h=1]Steve McClaren may quit Nottingham Forest after less than three months[/h] • McClaren said to be frustrated at Forest's lack of signings
• 'He is going away to reflect on things,' says source




  • Guardian staff
  • The Guardian, Friday 2 September 2011 Article history
    Steve-McClaren-005.jpg
    The Nottingham Forest manager, Steve McClaren, is said to think his squad is not capable of wining promotion. Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images

    Steve McClaren could be ready to walk out on Nottingham Forest over frustration at a lack of signings in the transfer window, according to reports last night.
    In an echo of his predecessor Billy Davies's frustration with the board, the former England manager believes he is not being given sufficient backing to have a realistic chance of promotion with the Championship club. "He is disappointed and frustrated at the lack of further additions, as he thinks he is short of what is required to take the club to promotion," a source close to McClaren is reported as saying. "He is going away for a few days to reflect on things."
    When the transfer window closed, Forest had spent £2m on Ishmael Miller and Jonathan Greening against nine players who had left. They signed three players on free transfers: George Boateng, Matt Derbyshire and Andy Reid.
    McClaren is said to have returned to his family home in the north-east to consider his future. The former England manager could only watch on frustratedly as Sven-Goran Eriksson, the manager of promotion rivals Leicester City, and Sam Allardyce of West Ham were able to strengthen their squads over the summer.
    "Steve came here in the hope of taking Forest up and was working on that basis," another source was quoted as saying. "But he has always said that the squad needed bolstering in order to do that." Forest lie 18th in the Championship and McClaren is said to have been questioning the ambition of the owner, Nigel Doughty, less than three months into the job.
    McClaren had wanted to sign Ashkan Dejagah, a winger whom he managed at Wolfsburg, and moves for Max Gradel, who left Leeds United for St Etienne, and Wayne Routledge, who joined Swansea City from Newcastle United, also fell through. Doughty, a venture capitalist who has an estimated £130m fortune, has invested £70m in the club during his 11 years as owner.

 
[h=2]Bulgaria v England, Euro 2012 Group G qualifier, 7:15pm[/h] [h=1]Captain John Terry hails impact of England's youngsters[/h] • Darren Bent misses training with groin problem
• Chris Smalling set to start at right-back against Bulgaria




  • Dominic Fifield in Sofia
  • guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 September 2011 23.00 BST Article history
    England-captain-John-Terr-005.jpg
    The England captain, John Terry, second left, is impressed with England's young players. Photograph: Matthew Ashton/AMA

    John Terry has admitted he and the other senior England players are "looking over our shoulders" at the bright young things making waves at clubs such as Manchester United and feels that the older guard all face a genuine challenge to retain places in Fabio Capello's side over the final year of his tenure.
    The Italian called up the uncapped Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley from the champions for Friday evening's Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria following the trio's eye-catching performances over the first few weeks of the Premier League campaign. Of the three, Smalling is expected to start at right-back, a position in which he was considered a novice a few months ago, with Capello to decide whether Jones or Gary Cahill will partner Terry at the heart of the defence against Lothar Matthäus's team.
    Yet, even if the 19-year-old is not handed a debut at the Vasil Levski stadium, the senior members of this England squad are well aware that the national manager now boasts younger options if standards slip. "We all feel that pressure of them pushing us and fighting for places," Terry said. "They firmly believe in themselves as club players and feel they can make this step up. In the long-term that's great for the whole squad, but we're obviously looking over our shoulders.
    "They're all very comfortable. The way they've come in and expressed themselves has been great. It's always time to freshen things up and if the younger players are good enough, they're old enough. A lot of these younger guys have benefited from going out on loan – the likes of Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge, too – and have great ability. That's also reassuring for the future."
    The emergence of the trio and Danny Welbeck, absent with a hamstring injury, has maintained a trend established with the breakthroughs of Joe Hart, Ashley Young and Jack Wilshere after last year's disappointing World Cup finals, a tournament which thrust the spotlight on to an underachieving generation. While Capello expressed his admiration for Smalling's progress in an unfamiliar right-back berth – "He's improved even in the four games he's played there with United, and is playing with confidence," the head coach said – it is Jones who has made a real impression on Terry.
    "He made his debut [for Blackburn] against us, playing very well against Didier Drogba, and we were eager for Chelsea to go and sign him even then," the England captain said of the centre-half who cost United £16.5m this summer. "He's very quick, good in the air, very comfortable on the ball, and he reads it very well as well. He literally has all the attributes that he'll need to become a very good England player.
    "And from what I've seen of him this week, he's even come on leaps and bounds from where he was last year. The eagerness to improve is key. He's the one who really sticks out in our position. He's one I'm looking over my shoulder at. He clearly wants a place in the England side, whether that's mine or someone else's. He's hungry for that. But I'm fortunate enough to have the shirt at the moment and it's down to me to keep it regardless of how the other guys are playing.
    "The older players are really keen to go and do well in the tournament next summer. Whether this is our last, or the next one is, we're not going to give it up easily. But we also know that if we're not performing for our clubs, the manager won't pick us. There was an example of that this week with Rio [Ferdinand] being left out of the squad, and we all know what a great player he is. But the manager won't take crap from anyone. If you're not playing, it doesn't matter who you are, you won't be picked."
    England endured a stuttering end to last season with the 2-2 home draw against Switzerland, a result which sees them top the group on goal difference from Montenegro, with a trip to Podgorica to come in the section's final round of fixtures. Yet there is confidence going into this evening's game against a beleaguered Bulgaria, with England having won their previous 10 fixtures in September, when their players are at their freshest.
    Capello, who may prefer Gareth Barry in midfield to Scott Parker but has a major doubt over Darren Bent, who missed training with a groin problem, chose the eve of the game to offer a reminder of his intention to select only personnel who show the necessary "pride" to play.
    That was perhaps a reference to the West Bromwich goalkeeper Ben Foster, who had reiterated his desire not to be included in the squad in talks with the general manager Franco Baldini last week. "If you want to stay in the squad, you need to respect me as the manager and respect my choices," Capello said. "But if any player says he's ready to return, then OK, no problem. I never close my door to people because you can make mistakes and understand what you did. My door is never closed."

 
[h=1]Sneijder denies pricing himself out of United move[/h] Published 23:01 01/09/11 By David Anderson

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...red-move-from-Inter-Milan-article794253.html#
wesley-sneijder-inter-milan-cropped


Wesley Sneijder insists his greed did not scupper a £35million move to Manchester United.
United were unwilling to match Sneijder's £250,000-a-week salary at Inter Milan, and said they would not go above £190,000-a-week.
Sneijder claims he came close to joining United and that the transfer didn't happen because he wanted to stay at the San Siro.
"For me, it was not so much a financial issue," said the Holland midfielder.

"My feeling was that I was simply feeling very good at Inter. I love the club, but also the Italian culture and the people. It fits with me.
"I just felt that it was close, yes. We had several talks. The situation was such that Inter had to sell a player, either Samuel Eto'o or me, and indeed there was interest."
Inter did sell striker Eto'o, to ambitious Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.
"They [Manchester United] are one of the biggest clubs in the world, so it didn't seem a bad thing," added Sneijder. "But at the same time I don't want to leave Inter.
"Italy is great for me, and I cannot exclude that they [United] got that feeling. For me, a move was not an absolute must and there were a few things which meant it did not happen."
Sir Alex Ferguson had the cash to land Sneijder, and United's latest results show they made a record profit of £110.9m.
Their turnover for the 12 months up to June 2011 was also up £45m to £334.1m.
Although United must pay around £45m in interest, they were still able to reduce their debts from £376.9m to £308.3m.



​
 
[h=1]Bellamy: I've got unfinished business at Liverpool[/h] Published 23:01 01/09/11 By David Maddock

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...b-he-supports-back-on-top-article794246.html#
craig-bellamy-liverpool-cropped


Craig Bellamy says he rejoined Liverpool because Kenny Dalglish is perfectly equipped to bring the glory days back to Anfield.
And the striker, who feels he has unfinished business at the club he supported as a kid and played for in the 2006-2007 season, is adamant that Reds legend Dalglish is creating the same buzz that made Liverpool so dominant in the 1970s and 1980s.
In particular, Bellamy is confident Dalglish has got it right in bringing more British players into his new-look side – to recapture the same identity of the great teams of Anfield's past.
"For me, the players they've signed this summer, there has been a lot of British [players], which takes me back to when I started watching Liverpool as a kid," said the Welshman.

"It looks so familiar to me, and to be part of it is such a huge honour.
"I've grown up with Kenny Dalglish. Now to be signed by him is a massive thing. I know we've [Liverpool] had bits of success since he left, but the club hasn't been the same since his time.
"So to come back in and be a part of this with the players who are here – it's a good time."
Bellamy grew up in Cardiff as a mad-keen Liverpool fan, with Dalglish as his idol through the glory days of the 1980s when the Scot brought silverware to Anfield as a player and as a manager.
And it is clear the passionate Welshman is inspired by the chance to play for one of the legends of the game, following a deadline-day free transfer from Manchester City.
The striker's enthusiasm on his return to Anfield is in marked contrast to the grim days when then-manager Rafa Benitez pushed him out of the club he loved.
Bellamy believes Dalglish is the perfect man to turn things around after the club endured some difficult years since he left.
"This is an exciting time," he said. "When Kenny took over, watching as a fan last season, I got the buzz as well and it was great to see Liverpool end the season well.
"To every Liverpool fan, Kenny is probably the best player ever to pull on the red shirt, so that speaks for itself.
"He was the first player-manager to do the Double and just how he conducted himself was impressive.
"The Liverpool team when I first signed is a lot different to the Liverpool side of the last couple of years, so we need to get back into the Champions League and look to push the club on from there again.
"Kenny can do that."
Bellamy appears to have been signed essentially as a classy understudy for Luis Suarez, but wants to prove himself worth a starting place.
He admitted he would love the chance to show his fellow Liverpool supporters his best form, after being denied that for much of his time under Benitez.
"I get this opportunity again for Liverpool fans to hopefully see a real good side of me on a playing level," added the 32-year-old.
"I know what I have to do to play in this team, so this should be a good time. I can play on either wing as well, like I did at Manchester City.
"I'm very happy. It's been a long couple of months.
"I had to be patient and believe something like this could happen. It has, so I'm over the moon."
**
BELLAMY IDOLISES DALGLISH BUT OTHER BOSSES WEREN'T SO LUCKY...
SIR BOBBY ROBSON: Called Bellamy "the gobbiest player I have ever managed". During Robson's tenure at Newcastle, Bellamy was sent home from a Spanish training camp after missing a dinner in honour of club president Sir John Hall. Bellamy also threw a chair at coach John Carver during a row over car parking at Newcastle airport.
GRAEME SOUNESS: Bellamy refused a request from the then-Newcastle boss to play on the wing and ended up being loaned out to Celtic. His spell at the Glasgow giants included a texting row with Alan Shearer after Toon's FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United. One text reportedly said: 'Your legs are gone. You're too old. You're too slow.' Shearer's response was to threaten to ‘knock his block off'.
RAFA BENITEZ: During a Liverpool training camp in Spain in February 2007, a row over karaoke ended in Bellamy going after team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club.
ALAN CURBISHLEY: The then-West Ham boss had a stand-up row with Bellamy after an opening day home loss to Manchester City in August 2007.
ROBERTO MANCINI: In a training ground bust-up this year, the Manchester City boss allegedly screamed at Bellamy: "Get out - and don't come back for three months." The Welshman had refused to train with one of the manager's Italian staff.


​
 
[h=1]Crouch eager to prove Tottenham wrong[/h] Published 23:01 01/09/11 By David Anderson

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...eer-after-forcing-him-out-article794267.html#
peter-crouch-tottenham-spurs-cropped


Peter Crouch admits he joined Stoke in a £10million move because he did not want to be left in the wilderness at Tottenham.
As exclusively revealed by the Mirror, Spurs threatened to banish Crouch to the reserves if he did not leave and the England striker is grateful to Potters manager Tony Pulis for rescuing him.
"No player wants to sit on the bench," said Crouch. "I was happy living where I was living [but] while sitting on the bench might be good enough for some players, I want to be playing and enjoying my football.
"And that will be with Stoke City now.

"The manager here made it quite clear he was extremely keen on bringing me here and I felt it was the right time for me to move on.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge of playing for Stoke City."
Crouch, 30, has warned Tottenham they will now miss out on the finest years of his career.
"I genuinely believe the best is yet to come from me," he said. "And I believe that will come with Stoke City now.
"I've signed for four years and I'm really looking forward to playing for this football club."


​
 
[h=1]Arteta marvels at "crazy" Arsenal transfer[/h] Published 22:59 01/09/11 By John Cross

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...ppened-or-how-it-happened-article794254.html#
Football-PremierLeague10-1.jpg


Mikel Arteta insists he made his "crazy" move to Arsenal to test himself in the Champions League.
The midfielder completed an on-off-on £10million switch from Everton with just minutes to spare before the summer transfer window closed, after agreeing to take a £10,000-a-week pay cut.
The Spaniard also told Everton boss David Moyes that he wanted to quit Goodison Park as he forced through his beat-the-deadline move.
"It has been crazy," said Arteta. "I can't believe what happened, and the way it happened, but that is part of football.

"It is a big opportunity for me and my family and I think it is the right time for me to take it.
"It is a big challenge, a different challenge, fresh for me and I want to see myself on the biggest stage - the Champions League.
"I am 29 years old, so I haven't got much time left to take a chance like this one.
"I think I have done my best for Everton. I always try hard, I have been as professional as I could and I was grateful for the support and the love that the club and the fans showed me."
Arteta's switch to Arsenal was one of the most eye-catching deals on a frantic final day of the summer window, and certainly eases the pressure on Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal tried and failed with big-money moves to replace Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri following their moves to Barcelona and Manchester City, and only turned to Arteta at the last minute, giving Everton little chance to replace him.
The Spaniard admitted it was a wrench to leave Goodison but believes joining Arsenal will inspire him to hit his best form.
"It is very difficult to say goodbye. I still can't believe it but at the same time I think it is the right moment for everyone," said Arteta.
"That is the way football is, there is always a start and an end and this is the end of probably the best time of my career - I am never going to forget it."
Former Arsenal captain Fabregas has backed his former club's swoop for Arteta.
"(He) is an excellent player," said Fabregas. "I believe he will bring some big performances to Arsenal and I hope he gives them success.
"We are different players with different characteristics. It was always going to be a hard start for Arsenal but now the window has passed, they can build for the future again."
Wenger's hectic flurry of last-minute signings also saw him bring in South Korea captain Park Chu-Young, Brazil left back Andre Santos, Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun and Germany defender Per Mertesacker.
Arsenal have looked at Mertesacker for more than a year and had reservations about the 6ft 6in defender's mobility, but turned back to him after having offers for Arteta's Everton team-mate Phil Jagielka and Bolton's Gary Cahill knocked back.
However, Mertesacker insists his arrival was not a panic response by Wenger to Arsenal's 8-2 humiliation at Manchester United.
"I don't think that (the defeat by United) was the reason, I want to believe they (Arsenal officials) were monitoring me for quite some time," he said.
"For me a childhood dream comes true. There is such incredible potential and we will get out of the position the team is currently in.
"Arsenal have this ability to play good football, and to have Wenger on top of that as coach is unbelievable.
"I wanted this for such a long time. It is a challenging task which I will tackle because I will also develop further as a player."
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Wenger did a U-turn after previously deciding not to sign a left-back because of fresh fears about Thomas Vermaelen's fitness.
Vermaelen missed most of last season because of an Achilles injury and, despite having surgery, the Belgian - who has been penciled in by Wenger to play at left-back following the sale of Gael Clichy to Manchester City - is still troubled by the problem.
That explains why Santos has been brought in from Fenerbahce, just days after Wenger had told his own staff he was putting his faith in Kieran Gibbs at the position, with Vermaelen as his back-up.



​
 
[h=4]Series: Rumour Mill[/h] Previous | Index

[h=1]Football transfer rumours: Nicklas Bendtner to never return to Arsenal?[/h] Today's rumours are Rocky Balboa




  • Evan Fanning
  • guardian.co.uk, Friday 2 September 2011 09.09 BST Article history
    Nicklas-Bendtner-007.jpg
    Nicklas Bendtner is as mad as hell and not going to take it any more. Well, from Arsenal, at least. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

    It's time to go back on the road. Thursday 1 September may have been a day to watch the tumbleweed blow past but Friday 2 September is when it all starts again.
    Like the heavyweight boxer going on that first, lonely, dawn run a few short days after the glamour of the Vegas prize-fight, these are the moments when the work is done.
    Sure, anyone can be there when the helicopters are landing in Stoke, or when Alan Hutton is being driven up and down the M6 wondering if he should take the toll or not. That, ladies and gentleman, is the glory but these are the hard yards. No pain, no gain.
    Without days like today there is no deadline day. There is no Breaking News Ticker on the status of Shaun Maloney's medical at Wigan. Gary Cotterill would be interviewing old ladies who have seen a manifestation of their cat's face in a slice of bread. There would be no Jim White. Perhaps we should have stayed in bed after all.
    But on the road we go. And look what we've found on our way ...
    A hat must be doffed in the direction of Carlos Tevez and his adviser Kia Joorabchian for their summer of negotiation, the end result of which is that Tevez passed on the City captaincy to Vincent Kompany and his place in the team to Sergio Agüero. But all is not lost.
    "He has managed to convince his wife to come over to Manchester for a while at least," Joorabchian revealed. "If she manages to settle in hopefully in the next four or five months, maybe he will settle down and things will be fine."
    The Mill is no expert on these things but we're pretty sure that in a few weeks Mrs Tevez is going to turn to her husband and say, 'Carlos, dear, why is it that we only ever eat in the same two restaurants?'
    She may have to get used to that but it could have been oh so different if, as Joorabchian has claimed, Manchester City had agreed to swap Tevez for Inter's Wesley Sneijder. But they didn't.
    Good news for Arsenal fans. Nicklas Bendtner has vowed never to go back to the Emirates. 'NEVER,' he screamed before slamming the door and shouting 'I hate you'.
    When the striker calmed down he gave some quotes in which he suggested that Arsène Wenger never gave him an opportunity after he crashed his Aston Martin two years ago.
    "If I can have it my way, I will never play for them again," he sobbed. "After my car accident I never really got the chance to earn a spot in the first team. That is over 1½ years with no real chance to prove myself. I am really looking forward to playing for Sunderland and then we will see next summer. I will find a new club - but I will not go back to Arsenal, that's for sure."
    The Everton manager David Moyes will be given a sizeable war-chest in January. He'll also be given some money to spend on new players. His priorities, it says here, will be a midfielder and a striker which would probably make sense seeing as he waved goodbye to a midfielder and two strikers on Wednesday before sitting down on his couch, turning to his wife and saying 'I think they had a nice time here, do you?'
    Paris-Saint Germain have "pencilled in a January move for Napoli's Marek Hamsik". They're willing to throw in a lifetime's supply of hair gel to seal the deal.
    The Juventus left-back Reto Ziegler could be set to move Fenerbahce this week. The Turkish transfer window doesn't close until 5 September so there's still time. There's still time. Moyes could also take advantage of the extended Turkish window by selling "wantaway" defender Joseph Yobo also to Fenerbahce, who are clearly hanging around the transfer window after closing time to see if any good-looking players are going home alone.
    Many, many people are happy with how things worked out for the over the summer, which is good because often there isn't enough time for happiness in the professional football world what with all the snarling and the shouting and the come-and-get-me-pleas.
    Sneijder is happy to have stayed at Inter rather than join Manchester United. "I love the club, but also the Italian culture and the people," he said. "It fits with me. Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world, so it didn't seem a bad thing. But at the same time I don't want to leave Inter."
    Elsewhere, Scott Dann is "delighted" with his move to Blackburn, Craig Bellamy is "buzzing" after his return to Anfield. Royston Drenthe "has the skills" to be a star at Everton and Shaun Wright-Phillips is "ready to have a laugh with Joey Barton".
    Oh, and David Cotterill is looking for a loan move away from Swansea with Watford a possible destination.
    We warned you this wasn't going to be easy.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar Discussions

Our Community

Coming Soon

Regional Communities

Coming Soon
Back
Top Bottom
Menu
Forums
New posts
Log in
Register