But gt, they tell us the same thing every season - usually between us going out of the domestic Cups and ST renewals - and then when it comes to the summer... nothing.

Having a few more £m's in the bank won't make a bit of difference this summer. Love to be wrong, but that's just how I feel now.

Although i'm pretty sure we'll get Etiene Capoue for next season. Monreal was meant to be for next year as well, but his signing was advanced.

Don't expect a lot happening. Personally i'm more interested in watching what'll happen with the coaching staff. I would much rather Wenger gave all defensive powers to Bould rather than sign a new CB. But there's more chance of us going through next season unbeaten, then Wenger handing over power.

In my opinion we need competiton on the goalkeeper position and get rid of Flappy and Mannone.

We need a physical, diciplined DM

Wen need as well a new mobile, tricky striker which is completely different to Giroud.

We need a defender too and if we can get a playmaker.

Get rid of the deadwood of course.

And above all a new tactical approach to play variable in the formation of 4-4-2 or 4-4-3 depending on the opponent.

A lot to do though

Everton are not in top form and Reading have improved lately. I can see a draw there.
As for Chelsea, it all depends on how players will react from Rafa latest press conference. Knowing the like of Terry and Cole.....it can get quite messy!

Honest question guys, apart from the horror of Spurs finishing ahead of us, does anyone really care about finishing in the Top 4?

I don't want to hear of this it'll prevent us from signing top players nonsense

Lex as I said. My feeling tells me this summer will be different. I could be wrong though.

and for the attraction of the champions league, we would not have got players like cazorla, monreal, podolski, giroud without it

does anyone really care about finishing in the Top 4?
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Not in the slightest. In fact i'm in the minority that would prefer a break from the CL chaos. I see no point in entering a competition on the sole aim of hoovering up the cash prize, without any hope of winning the trophy.

TBOK is right. Even though it seems like an ambition-free cop-out, CL is massively important to us if we want to at least stay on the coat-tails of the Manchester clubs.

Honest question guys, apart from the horror of Spurs finishing ahead of us, does anyone really care about finishing in the Top 4?

I don't want to hear of this it'll prevent us from signing top players nonsense

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Agree with you mate. If we fail to get a CL place it wouldnt prevent players to come to Arsenal. Money talks... Sadly but it is as it is.

I do care of the Cl League place because not only because of financial reasons which is important enough but to give the public a sign that we are among Europe top clubs.

TBOK, this is what i wrote on another thread yesterday:

When you're not in the CL, your ambition is great, since you strive to get in the tournament. As a result you invest and improve the squad, and indirectly make yourself more likely to challenge for trophies.

Arsenal are in the fringes of the CL. They have NO ambition to win the CL, NO chance of winning it and therefore NO ambition to improve the team. As a result our squad has declined and we're still addicted to CL cash.

And people keep on praising Wenger for keeping us in the CL all those years. What for? So that Kroenkes cash flow is healthy??



I wouldn't mind the ambitionless CL runs if the money is being invested in the first team. But it isn't. It's to prop up this paper thin "self-sustainable model" we keep on harping on about.

We've some big commercial deals up for renewal next year too.

Need CL football too maximise the club's appeal to sponsors.

Anyway, i don't agree that CL money is "massively important to us". Are you telling me that our wonderful financial model is based on a continued entry into the CL competition? Well if that's the case, why hasn't the manager and board invested in the first team in order for us to be fighting for that spot?

I don't think we're anywhere near the manchester clubs. A 21 point deficite is not a figament of someones imaginations. The league doesn't lie. We really are that far behind united and with 12 games to go. That is truly pathetic.

Wrong Serial, of course Arsenal have ambition to win a trophy. The direction and how we reach the aim is questionable for sure.

To win the CL League you dont need not only a brilliant team. You need luck as well as Chelsea showed last year.

Liverpool signed Suarez without champs lge qualification.
Spurs signed Lloris, Holtby, Dembele, Vertongen.
Apart from the financial boost, which we never spend anyway i honestly couldnt care less about Champs lge, we're never going to win it(not for a while anyway) and we could play the kids in the Europa(or better still not even qualify for that)

We can then concentrate on the league & FA cup & get some pride back into the club, but that’s just my opinion

Gotze and capoue and jovetic will be our 3 summer signings. Maybe a CB aswell if Verm leaves.

Need a new keeper too, Rev.

Need CL football too maximise the club's appeal to sponsors.
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No, Lex, we need success to maximise the clubs appeal. The CL is mirage. You seriously think that the image of "Arsenal - 8 years without a trophy" is being ignored by potential sponsors? That the CL football is the overriding factor attracting commercial revenue to us?

Sponsors love a winner. They don't find it very appealing to tag themselves with a club that used to win something, but are now generally known to be just a bunch of losers.

Anyway, i don't agree that CL money is "massively important to us". Are you telling me that our wonderful financial model is based on a continued entry into the CL competition? Well if that's the case, why hasn't the manager and board invested in the first team in order for us to be fighting for that spot?


Yep its embarrassing that we are so far behind Manchester United. But we arent the only club to have to think about it. Chelsea and even City are embarrassig far away from the top table and both have intvested much more than we did.

Of course sponsors want to be associated with winners, Serial. But do you honestly think we'd be in a stronger position if we'd, say, won the CO C, but missed out on the CL next season?

Of course not.

@HUNTING FOR GLORY

<> Fair enough mate. Your opinion is welcome.


Rev, I think you really should be realistic and I tell you again that Götze is just an illusion.