You are laughing at the prospect of Diaby starting?

If the boy manages to stay fit, and things certainly look good after having played parts of all three games in Asia, then Wenger WILL start him a lot. Watch and see.

Spanish journalists don't count add-ons like english ones, hence the discrepancy.

So how about the midfield of Wilshere, Arteta and Cazorla then? Sure it won't happen but anyway, do you think he's going to play in the middle 3 or more on the flanks?

Humble Rex wrote:

You are laughing at the prospect of Diaby starting?

If the boy manages to stay fit, and things certainly look good after having played parts of all three games in Asia, then Wenger WILL start him a lot. Watch and see.

Oh I know!

I was laughing at the timing of the article. Everyone expects an announcement that we've signed Cazorla and arsenal.com come out with an article about Diaby. They do enjoy winding the arsenal fans up.

Patters wrote:
Humble Rex wrote:

You are laughing at the prospect of Diaby starting?

If the boy manages to stay fit, and things certainly look good after having played parts of all three games in Asia, then Wenger WILL start him a lot. Watch and see.

Oh I know!

I was laughing at the timing of the article. Everyone expects an announcement that we've signed Cazorla and arsenal.com come out with an article about Diaby. They do enjoy winding the arsenal fans up.

Don't you know Diaby is like brand new signing

This is the best vid of him I've seen.

Shows what he's all about

Well based on those seven minutes - he's smart,doesn't dwell on the ball, moves it on quickly, very accurate with long passes, two footed 🙂, good dribbler
Takes a shot from distance, starts moves and knows to follow up and get in position to finish the job. Took those two goal chances beautifully.
If that's representative - he'll do 🙂

No announcement today? 🙁

It isn't his twitter account. I haven't taken note but some saying we always announce new signings on a Friday. So hopefully tomorrow is the day and then we can move on to Sahin.

... the club are poised to announce his £16m signing from Málaga, which they hope will be followed by the loan of Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin.

Cazorla stands to travel with the Arsenal squad on their training excursion to Germany next week and make his debut in the friendly against FC Köln

A four year deal 😉🙂🙂
Still unofficial.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/aug/02/arsenal-santi-cazorla-robin-van-persie?cat=football&type=article

Nela wrote:

No announcement today? 🙁

Y Va said August 3rd, so August 3rd it is.

this one looks like it's in the bag. excellent signing, will boost the technical level of our front line.

we would've had a cracking team if rvp didn't have be all cunty. now we'll just be "good".

A world class striker won't turn this team from good to excellent. That depends on how we work out defensively. Even though we might not sign any defensive players, I think with properly defined roles, we can make a lot of progress.

Last season no midfielder seemed to know what they were doing. It was choas. If we tell Arteta to play purely as a DM in the Busquets role, and we tell Song he no longer has to assume as much attacking responsibility, our shape will be a lot better.

having guys like arteta, cazorla, and (eventually fingers crossed) jack and sahin, as well as ball playing defenders like kos, santos, and verms should help us keep the ball a hell of alot better than we did last season.

Yo, fuck the Busquets role, whatever it is.

With this signing, Song no longer has to bear the brunt of our creative midfield responsibilities, which means he doesn't need to venture forward as often as he did last season, or try to execute Hollywood passes. We will keep the ball better, and he ought to be able to provide a bit more protection for the defense.

In theory.

flobaba wrote:

Yo, fuck the Busquets role, whatever it is.

With this signing, Song no longer has to bear the brunt of our creative midfield responsibilities, which means he doesn't need to venture forward as often as he did last season, or try to execute Hollywood passes. We will keep the ball better, and he ought to be able to provide a bit more protection for the defense.

In theory.

In theory indeed. Can't see it changing the way Song plays really. That's up to Wenger to sort out and he doesn't seem to see it as a problem. It's a shame really as I think Song is better for us as a more defensively orientated player.

Not fussed if he goes.

Liked him a few years back but his style now grates.

Thinks he's Pirlo

22 minutes ago...

D ‏@AFCAMDEN
'Tiny' Cazorla is at the training ground again this morning - medical being completed right now!! Hopeful for an announcement later #AFC

D ‏@AFCAMDEN
Apparently Wenger took Vermaelen into his office yesterday morning to let him know of Cazorla's arrival. Note it was Vermaelen and not RvP

Guys, losing Song would be a very big deal. Yes he can be replaced but then anyone can, it doesn't mean it's ok to lose them.

Apologies if posted already: WhoScored.com ‏@WhoScored
Most passes completed in opposition half (top 5 leagues 2011/12): Xavi 1957, Pirlo 1715, Messi 1691, Alonso 1543, Cazorla 1467, Modric 1440

He played 18 games less than Alonso and 24 games less than Messi.

I'm assuming those stats are based on league appearances!

Today's arseblog had a link to an interview with someone from Opta and he provided these statistics:

OptaJose wrote:

Three players made over 1000 passes in the final third in LigaBBVA 11/12: Messi (1303), Xavi (1101) and Cazorla (1037). Brainy.

Cazorla would be the best signing made by any Premier League club so far this summer.

Klaus wrote:

Cazorla would be the best signing made by any Premier League club so far this summer.

Without doubt.

The guy is purely and simply a brilliant footballer

Olly Girude wrote:

This is the best vid of him I've seen.

Shows what he's all about

Insane quality there. Shows everything you'd want in a midfielder. How can we not play him as a proper central midfielder when he has that range of skills? His genuine versatility is a massive plus also though.

From my limited viewings, I can't see how Sahin would be a better centre midfielder for us than Cazorla? Santi just looks like a 27 year old Jack, which is damn good.

Nela wrote:

22 minutes ago...

D ‏@AFCAMDEN
'Tiny' Cazorla is at the training ground again this morning - medical being completed right now!! Hopeful for an announcement later #AFC

D ‏@AFCAMDEN
Apparently Wenger took Vermaelen into his office yesterday morning to let him know of Cazorla's arrival. Note it was Vermaelen and not RvP

How does he even know that...? 😆

He's the guy who's been credited for first tweeting that we were seriously in for Cazorla.

I know (and can believe) that.

But to go from there and claim to know who Wenger meets and what they discuss? Sorry, but no.

Olly Girude wrote:

This is the best vid of him I've seen.

Shows what he's all about

I don't know if it's because the Spanish NT is made up of midgets but Cazorla seems a lot taller and bulkier for someone who is 5 ft 6.

Jamie Sanderson ‏@YoungGunsBlog
Santi Cazorla at the Arsenal training ground this morning to complete move. Met the players. Medical done. Virtually done now.