New signings to be unveiled on july first week

Arsenal will unveil their new signings by july first week according to the latest reports.
The Gunners are linked with Lille striker Gervinho, Southampton winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, West ham united playmaker Scott Parker, Argentenian Ricardo Alvarez, Blackburn defender Chris Samba and also are involved in a record deal with Valencia's U-21 midfielder Juan Mata.

Arsenal linked with Shock move for Newcastle Star

Arsenal have been linked with a shock move for Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.

The Scouter made his thoughts clear yesterday about the exit of Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan and the former Manchester City man seemed to hint that he would be next.

“Devastated to see him [Nolan] SOLD! #mejose[Enrique]andjonas[Gutierrez]next,” tweeted Barton.

Bookmakers SkyBet have cut Barton’s odds on joining Arsenal considerably with Arsene Wenger considering the tough-tackling midfielder to add some steel to his side.

Arsenal and Newcastle United face each other in the first game of the 2011/12 Premier League campaign in a repeat of the epic 4-4 draw from last season.

Arsenal have a nightmare start to 2011/12 EPL Campaign

We start the season with Newcastle (A), followed by Liverpool (H) and then Man Utd (A). From last season, I’d say those three fixtures were the most depressing results, apart from the 2-3 defeat to Spurs at the Emirates.

The Liverpool match was also a soul-destroying game, where Arsenal controlled proceedings until the last two minutes. And no one really remembers the away game at Old Trafford. It was boring, we lost. Park scored a lucky goal. Sounds like most Arsenal-Utd meetings.

Arsenal face both Spurs and Chelsea away from home in October, along with home games against Sunderland and Stoke. Emirates season ticket holders will be treated to only three games in January and February, but matches against Man Utd, Blackburn and Spurs at home are sure to whet the appetite.

Arsenal also have a tricky run in, with City and Chelsea at home in April, along with a typically tough away trip to Stoke.

However, we finish the season with Norwich (H) and West Brom (A), which should prove slightly easier fixtures than those at the start of the season. Then again, these two teams may have Premier League survival to play for, so we cannot assume that the Gunners will win these games automatically! Nothing is ever simple when it comes to the Arsenal…

Arsenal bid for Brazilian star confirmed (And it’s not Willian!)

For the last few weeks Arsenal have been constantly linked with a move for the Shakhtar winger Willian, but according to the agent of his Brazilian team-mate Douglas Costa it is his client who has been the subject of a bid.
Costa is a Brazilian U20 international and was hugely impressive for Shakhtar in their run to the Quarter-Finals of this years Champions League, and was previously linked with a move to Man Utd in January, but Costa’s agent, Cesar Bottega, reckons that it was Arsenal that have made the first offer.
Bottega said: “The Gunners have offered the club Denilson in exchange for Douglas but Shakhtar said no. They are not interested in Denilson and would want only money.”
Arsenal fans were hoping to kill two birds with one stone by making a swap deal with the Ukranian Champions by off-loading the wantaway Denilson in exchange for Willian, but now they are going to have to look further afield for a buyer. Costa certainly would be a fantastic replacement for his fellow Brazilian….

Cesc Fábregas worth less this summer, says Barcelona president

Barcelona believe Cesc Fábregas's value has dropped since last summer.

The Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says he believes the Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fábregas is now worth less than he was at this time last summer.

Barcelona were prepared to pay €40m (£36m) in 2010, but Rosell said that if the club goes ahead with a new bid this summer, Arsenal can expect a lower offer.
"If last summer we offered €40m for Cesc, and since then there has been wear and tear, now he's worth less," Rosell said. "In the case that we were interested, our offer would be reasonable. We would not go overboard."

Fábregas said on Wednesday that he has left any decision on his future to Arsenal, admitting his frustration after another trophyless season.

The 24-year-old said: "Barcelona are the best team in the world and going there guarantees titles. Any player who says he is not frustrated at not winning titles is lying. I am ambitious. But I owe myself to Arsenal. I have not spoken to the manager – he is the boss, he takes decisions and I don't know if they want to sell me or not."

Lille offer Gervinho new deal in bid to stop Arsenal move

Arsene Wenger looked set to loosen his purse strings with a £12million bid for the Ivory Coast star but the Ligue 1 champions will not be losing their main man without a fight.
Lille general manager Frederic Paquet - who earlier this week revealed talks between the two clubs over the 23-year-old were at an "advanced stage" said: "We are in negotiations with Arsenal over Gervinho.
"We received an offer from London and although our intention is to offer a new contract to our striker we will talk to Arsenal."
Gervinho played an instrumental role in Lille's double-winning campaign, scoring 18 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions but his exit could help secure the services of the highly coveted Eden Hazard.

Arsenal interested in Keisuke Honda

This report and headline comes from the Daily Mirror, as they report that Honda wants to leave the club and that both the Gunners and Liverpool are interested in signature. Keisuke Honda has long been linked with a move to the Gunners and Wenger is a known admirer of the Japanese international. I believe Honda is a talented and quality player and would be good addition to the squad, he will reportedly cost around 15 million pounds.

It’s Chris Samba or Gary Cahill For Arsenal – Or Is It?

I  It is the general consensus at Arsenal that the team needs a strong, forceful centre back to add to the spine of the team and help them to some much needed trophies. It is also the general feeling among the gossip columns that Arsene Wenger will choose between either Blackburn's Chris Samba, or Bolton's Gary Cahill to fill that gap in his squad. But which one will it be? In truth, both seem increasingly unlikely for various reasons, so lets evaluate why.

Lets start with Chris Samba. At 27 years-old and a good 5 years with Blackburn, Samba has plenty of experience that the Arsenal team is often said to be lacking in. He stands at a towering 6 foot 4 inches, and is a force to be reckoned with defending set pieces, with his large frame able to reach above the attacking opponents to clear the danger. He would slot nicely into the defence alongside the combative Thomas Vermaelen, who was missed terribly last season for Arsenal.

Samba revealed last season that he was close to joining Arsenal in the January transfer market, which shows that Arsenal are clearly interested in the player, which is good news, as it shows Wenger's intent to add experience and power to his defence. However, Arsenal's £10 million bid was not enough to persuade Blackburn part with their captain, but it is thought that £12 million would be the price in which Blackburn would be willing to let Samba go.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, recent transfer events have transpired against them. In fact, it may be arch rivals Manchester United's fault that Arsenal miss out on Samba - not because United are themselves interested in Samba, but because Sir Alex Ferguson has recently stolen Samba's young defensive partner Phil Jones away from Ewood Park. Would Blackburn be willing to let both halves of their defensive backbone leave the club in one transfer window?

That doesn't seem likely unless Arsenal tie up a deal for Samba quickly, as that way, Blackburn will have both the time in the market and the money from the sales of the pair to find some replacements and back-up. Last season Samba and Jones were vital players in the sides survival, and so losing them both would not help the club one bit - the club surely understand this, and however swiftly a deal for Samba could be done would still be very reluctant in letting him go.

Next, and to Gary Cahill. He, like Samba is a strong, fearless defender, and having played in the Premier League since 2004, has the experience needed at Arsenal. At 25 years-old, he has more of a long term future than Samba, and has more time for improvement, though some may argue potential is not what Arsenal need at the moment.

The gossip columns have been all over this story, with Cahill said to be wanted by Manchester City as well as Arsenal, and will cost at least £17 million to match the players release clause in his Bolton contract.

Should I stop there? Wenger probably would want to after hearing £17 million. That amount would be the immediate detractor for Arsenal, whilst being absolutely no obstacle for City. The Daily Mail have come up with a clever little solution of sorts for Wenger, as they claim that Arsenal may offer their young 19 year-old Spanish centre back Ignasi Miquel on loan to Bolton as well as cash to persuade them to part with Cahill.

Of course, a player plus cash deal seems attractive for Bolton, but with Miquel's inexperience in the Premier League, it seems a big risk for them and a young experiment for Arsenal to see how their youth player does at the Reebok. Bolton are no stranger to Arsenal's loans, with a very useful one in Jack Wilshere occurring just two season ago in which the 19 year-old came of age and subsequently broke into the Arsenal first team, but this one may be less attractive.

If it is money Bolton are looking for, then City would win a bidding war with Arsenal immediately. So, if Wenger does make one of these players his priority for the summer, then it looks more likely to be Chris Samba, due simply because he is the cheaper option and it would avoid a huge bidding war with big spender Manchester City. Contrary to some reports then, it will be either Samba or Cahill rather than Samba and Cahill who may join recent £1 million signing Carl Jenkinson at Arsenal.

Tell me what you think!