I thought he was superb for a time last season. I'm happy enough that he has a new contract and I think he should be a good squad player, I dont necessarily agree with Rex that he needs a run in the team to be effective.

So, when has Rozza been useful as a bit part player? I can only think of 1 game myself.

He was only really good for about 3 weeks, starting with the Spurs game and finishing at the Newcastle match where he was poor. After that he had some decent games and some poor games. Over the whole season he managed 2 goals and 6 assists while playing behind the striker, thats poor in anyones book. I'd rather we'd let him go in the summer TBH. That said I don't really mind him playing back up but I fear Wenger will give him more responsibility than he deserves.

Humble Rex wrote:

So, when has Rozza been useful as a bit part player? I can only think of 1 game myself.

I think his run of good form last season was only partially due to playing for a few weeks on the trot.

My theory is that Rosicky was, for one of the first periods in years, playing completely without any niggling nagging injuries when he hit his run of form.
Ironically that led to him starting more games which in turn led to fresh injury and a dip in form.
There were games last season where I was watching him in disbelief as he was sharp, quick, aggressive and completely fired up.
It was bizarre.

Humble Rex wrote:

General Mirth wrote:

I was a bit worried that we'd actually rely on him but Rosicky's fine as a squad player.

The thing is that Rosicky was NOT 'fine' as a squad player. He was quite poor actually. It wasn't until he was given a run in the team as a STARTER that he actually started putting in better than average performances. Even during that run, where he was pretty good IMO, he failed to score or assist enough for the position he played.

That was at a point in time when he was not a good player full stop. Mostly because he didn't have a position in the first team, until last season Rosicky was never a CAM.

The way I see it is that Rosicky is behind Cazorla(?), Wilshere and has to slug it out with Diaby, Ramsey and possibly even AOC for one spot in midfield. He's about as good a player as you can get to fill that role in the squad.

Of course if he starts on the wings ever again I'm going to kill a kitten.

Sky saying on the tele that we're close to signing Sahin

On a permanent deal?

He'll be unveiled on August 8th. Don't forget to tell your Twitter friends.

I'd like to follow you on twitter now, Klaus.

Loan with a view to a permanent transfer

If we sign both Cazorla and Sahin and the only player of note we lose is RVP, then this is by far the best transfer window as far back as my memory can take me.

If we manage to sign Sahin now, then I will forgive Wenger for not going all out signing Vidal a couple of years ago.

Am I the only one who's seen the Sahin news?

There is no news until it's on Arse.com.

Arsenal.com doesn't publish news though. They're well known facts by the time they get there.

There wasn't any new in that news from Sky Squallkid

Would it be fair to say that there are more questions marks about Sahin than Cazorla?
In terms of who is more likely to play a part from the beginning of the season and have more immediate an impact Cazorla is the safer option?

Nothing new on the Sky website...

When it's on the tv and not some twitter bs then it's really happening.

Mourinho's said he can go.

Spanish journalists have wrote about it.

It's been on tv

On the BBC website

This one is a goer

It will be announced on August 8th. Bonus ITK: Sahin will say in an interview published on Arsenal.com around the same time that he's eager to play for Arsenal.