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Should Arsenal fans be worried?

Premier League Arsenal
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Alexander Hleb looks set to join Mathieu Flamini in making a summer getaway from Arsenal.

The Belarus winger is reportedly Inter Milan-bound and if he does make his exit it would give concerned Gunners fans even more cause to worry.

It would confirm that Arsenal are struggling to keep hold of their best players as they come to terms with a third season without a trophy.

And, for pessimists among the Arsenal fans, it could be the start of a nightmare scenario unfolding in front of their bemused eyes.

Flamini left for AC Milan after having his best season at the club and establishing himself as a force in central midfield.

He is 24 and, with Hleb aged 27 and also impressing throughout the current campaign, the possibility of losing two players who are on the way up is a daunting prospect.

In past years, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has let players go when he felt the time was right.

Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars are names that spring to mind as players who left and then failed to reach the same heights achieved with the Gunners.

But, with the departure of Flamini and Hleb's future in doubt, the situation unfolding suggests players may see Arsenal as a stepping stone to greater perceived heights.

Money and ambition - in terms of winning silverware - seem to be the catalysts.

Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor are also targets for Arsenal's European rivals and, unless the club get a hold of the situation, the repercussions threaten to bring horror to fans.

Wenger has lauded his developing young players in recent seasons and faithfully backed them to come good but his dream could be shattered if any kind of exodus occurs.

The Frenchman has a strategy of developing talent rather than splashing the cash but, whether it is breaking any kind of wage structure or spending big to buy proven talent, he and the club may now need to try a new approach.

Latest 10 comments

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posted May 11, 2008

No y should we be worried we had a good season and hav shown wot we can do but just need to make some good signings and we can win the league
Wot r team should be next year
Back line
is good part from keepers but fabianski can be great with more expirence so loan him and almunia can be back up keeper as he is ok and sign gomes
Gomes
sagna
toure
gallas
clichy
but need to give toure capitancy and sell senderos and djourou (who will want them who knows!)
Midfield is good but need replace for flamini and hleb (if he leaves)
walcott
fabregas
yaya toure
nico kranjcar
sell eboue PLEASE JUST DO THAT!!!!!!!
Strikers
good but just need that a bit more class (villa or pato or maybe agbonlahor
adebayor
villa
sell bendnther and hope eduardo get back soon

Subs
almunia
traore
diaby
hleb (unless he goes of 2 inter)
van persie
eduardo(when back)

so we shouldnt be worried just need kick out the useless players (eg eboue and senderos) and bring in bit more class
Adebayor still da best though
and i h8 man u but well done 2 them for winnig league shame it wernt us


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posted May 12, 2008

I feel fairly pragmatic about the season, good? for sure i would have taken 3rd on 1st day but success in football is only born from an unrelenting desire to improve and not be satisfied with what u have. I understand AW making his comments in public about us having done well overall, i just hope hope that in private he doesn't share that view. Can you really see Utd sitting back and not improving their squad? I think i speak for the large majority of gooners, if Eboue is still there next year then Wenger is loosing it (sorry for even suggesting it!), how can a player so lacking in imagination, skill, the ability to deliver a ball and above all character still be starting ahead of Theo? I think Eboue has been an embarrasment this season, I rated him when he arived, yes he was raw, but showed potential, however he has gone backwards. Stop throwing tantrums, stop giving away needless fouls and start playing a little better so that we may at least have a chance of making some money when you leave (for a club with more ambition no doubt lol).

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posted May 14, 2008

I think Wenger should buy Two world class player that will be able to finish the job by scoring the gold next season. 'cos the they can't afford to loosing next season
and is about time wenger should start using Theo Wallcot rather than leaving him on bench.
as a Fan we need silverware

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posted May 14, 2008

Some interesting thoughts on here, it annoys me that people revel in the slightest rumours revolving around our club. Flaminis gone and hleb is going thats it no one else no way would Wenger allow it, although id welcome the likes of bendtner and eboue to leave. We get no credit for being a football club with a strict regime of a, keeping a wage structure unless special special circumstances and b, saying good riddens to those that no longer want to play for us. Flamini great at what he did but what else did he do? Hleb often oh so often went missing and although magical at times for me when the chips are down he might aswell not be on the pitch.

Cheer up one and all, my suggestions beneath:

Arsenal need to dip into the market substantially and i think Wenger looks prepared to do it. We may have come close but in reality with hleb and flamini going we need three or four players. My suggestions are wholly realistic.

Goalkeeper: Joe Hart or Artur Boruc
Defender: Vincent Kompany or Micah Richards
Midfielder: Yaya Toure (a must) Arshavin or Ben Arfa

and up front if theo hits form and van gets fit i think we'll be okay but why not take a cut price Anelka back, not too much to ask it it two or three of them would be superb

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posted May 14, 2008

ben arfa was linked today
we need him

yaya toure would be good

get micah off man city to play with kolo

and they also need back up for wing backs

then they will do quadrouple next year

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posted May 16, 2008

i think we should buy N.De.Jong, free up Fabregas from defensive duties.
However, its out of our hands, and we hope that Arsene makes the right choices
CMON ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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posted May 16, 2008

i dont think we the gunners should be worry cos this season that just ended though no cups arsenal squad was great and mighty.Wenger for me is a good coach who gona bring arsenal out this coming season at their winning ways.arsenal are getting 2-3 titles nxt season i believe it cos they are the bxt squad in enland for now infact europe as a homew...am proude to b an arsenal fan i luv the gunners we always the champions...always arsenal.........

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posted Jun 16, 2008

Unless Asenal boys change the way they play and start scoring more golds. they play football that everyone want to watch them playing not just fancy football but to score more golds this season.

They have to watch the way Man U played. they shoud go out there score. job done.

not play draw when they should win and lose to some small team, when Asenal should bit them hand down.

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posted Jun 22, 2008

I dont think so the arsenal fans should be worried becoz they have good,young talents like Robin Van Persie,Emannuel Adebayor,Nikalas Bendtner who can net the ball many a times in the goal and they are behind Samir Nasri who is a fantastic playmaker and that is why we dont have to worry much

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comment by Spnghd (U12462451)

posted Jun 24, 2008

I dont see why arsene wenger dosnt want to sign David Villa. he says we hve had no trouble scoring goals this season. i think Villa would be fanominal at Arsenal.

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