Klaus wrote:

That would have been the most epic unveiling ever. Imagine Vidal's first presser in London: "I'm very happy to have signed for Arsenal Football Club where I'll finally get to play with Alexis and Mathieu... bashes Danny Welbeck over the head with it while Biggus is watching in front of his livestream with tears or joy streaming down his face*

Big's details adjusted

I'm not doing this (for now  😆 ).

😆

It's been a while since the transfer section was this much fun.

More fun to believe than to be a skeptic (for this rumor at least)!!

Best transfer hoopla since Arshavin 🙂

marv3llous wrote:

Papers in Italy too now ...

Never in doubt. I actually heard of this Saeid cunt much later, it was Marca and this Harry Fella TV journo that had me excited.

I wonder how butthurt Saied will be if this deal actually goes through and we all proclaim him ITK.

Clunk wrote:

http://www.redcafe.net/threads/vidal-to-arsenal.405999/

😆 They love Schneiderlin so much.

There was even another thread about whether Schneiderlin or Schweinsteinger and guess who won...

I can understand why they'd want him over Schweiny because he's old and they have a pretty old squad  but Vidal is top drawer and in his prime.

There is one of the things that concerned or rather concerns me with Coquelin.

When we're chasing a game or need a goal especially against weaker teams who park the bus his game is limited. He doesn't pose a threat attacking wise and the opposition double team on the other CM. Remember him getting subbed a lot at the last few games when chasing. I suspect Wenger had the same thought. Wether he's stubborn enough to think a 33 year old Arteta coming back from a major injury can last games or not he knows this. Feel free to disagree but I think Coquelin is the one who should be on the bench and a more complete DM be it Schneiderlin or Vidal should be starting. A Schneiderlin or Vidal have enough in the locker to alter their game according to the strategy be it defending or chasing a goal. A player like Vidal would actually need to curb his attacking runs more here and do a more defensive job as opposed to the box-to-box stuff he does for Juventus. Plenty of big games we might need a Vidal and Coquelin both.

Got the Gazzetta on the plane, and it says, more or less:

"In England, they are convinced of Vidal's transfer to Arsenal. Some cunt at Juve denies it, but in the face of an adequate offer, they would also (in addition to Pirlo and Tevez) let him go. What would be adequate? Not less than 30M euro."

It's on. All we need is Klaus, I mean Mr. X, to report it now

Gazetta is really not reliable at all though.

Reports linking Arturo Vidal to Arsenal are wide of the mark, according to Sky sources.

Can't see this happening at all.

Gunner89 wrote:

There is one of the things that concerned or rather concerns me with Coquelin.

When we're chasing a game or need a goal especially against weaker teams who park the bus his game is limited. He doesn't pose a threat attacking wise and the opposition double team on the other CM. Remember him getting subbed a lot at the last few games when chasing. I suspect Wenger had the same thought. Wether he's stubborn enough to think a 33 year old Arteta coming back from a major injury can last games or not he knows this. Feel free to disagree but I think Coquelin is the one who should be on the bench and a more complete DM be it Schneiderlin or Vidal should be starting. A Schneiderlin or Vidal have enough in the locker to alter their game according to the strategy be it defending or chasing a goal. A player like Vidal would actually need to curb his attacking runs more here and do a more defensive job as opposed to the box-to-box stuff he does for Juventus. Plenty of big games we might need a Vidal and Coquelin both.

I agree with what you're saying re Coquelin - it is clear Wenger saw him as unable to really contribute when we needed to chase a goal because he was always the one hooked off. My view is that Wenger sees Coqulein as a fantastic weapon to have in your armoury; in a number of games through a long season, he is just the guy you want to stop a David Silva, get a good point away from home or bring on to protect a lead. But I don't think he views him as the sort of midfielder he wants his A team to contain. The team he sends out most weeks to obliterate the opposition.

I don't think it's reasonable to put Vidal and Schneiderlin in the same sentence when talking about being dynamic and able to change their game depending on what is required though. Schneiderlin's much more similar to Coquelin in that regard; one paced, but good at what he does. Vidal can be whatever you want him to be.

Sky can fuck off, their 'sources' are probably that hysterical epic twitter troll idiot. They are pretty much a slower, less reliable BBC these days.

Coquelin at this moment in his career bears no comparison to Vidal. I don't buy that Wenger doesn't see a player like Coquelin integral to his plans though. Coquelin gives him so much tactical flexibility. There was a bit of fortune about how Coquelin entered into the fray last season. However, every time Wenger speaks about Coquelin, he points to how he has had to force Coquelin to concentrate on his strengths, which are breaking up the play and defending. He has admitted that the reason Coquelin remained on the fringes was because he believed he could be a good box to box player. Wenger has made him see reason in going down that road and it has seen Coquelin turn a corner so to say. Wenger would have not stuck with a player for so long if he wanted more from him and didn't see an attribute as extremely important. Coquelin will be critical next season and as long as the 5 players ahead of him are top quality, his lack of skill on the ball won't matter as much. Obviously, we would be better off if we signed the complete midfielder, one who can pass, hold position and defend like Coquelin.