Hello Samir Nasri

Finally. I knew it was on the cards but while Arsenal.com were yet to announce it as a done deal there remained an ounce of doubt in my mind. Well the deal is now a done one, as of July 11th and Samir Nasri is an Arsenal player officially.

Whether he is a replacement for the soon to be departing Alex Hleb or merely the extra quality on the wing that was needed last season, is still in doubt, with I rooting for the latter and hoping that an extra winger is bought in once Hleb’s move to Barcelona becomes final. Some of you may complain it’s just another young player bought into the mix but Nasri isn’t just any young player, he’s already gotten a plentiful of experience under his belt and comes very highly rated.

Hleb looks all ready to be out on his way, to Barcelona for a fee of fifteen million. That’s good business in my eyes, the sort of fee I wanted for Hleb and it beats him leaving for zilch thanks to the Webster clause which some predicted a while ago.

Adebayor looks a whole lot further to the exit but his leaving remains a possibility with Roque Santa Cruz, a proven scorer in the Premier League his touted replacement. There’s talk of players coming the other way (Eto’o & Gourcuff) and an ambiguous quote from Ade’s agent that Arsenal have slashed their asking price. I would rather he stayed but he’s far from irreplacable.

Rumors seem to be picking up that we are set to hijack Liverpool’s swoop for Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry. Martin O’Neill, one of my favorite Premier League managers, has claimed Pat Rice gave them a phone to see how the deal was going and confirmed Arsenal may show an interest. He’s a good player and one I’d like to see replace Flamini but we will have to pay a touch over the odds, as you strangely have to for English players in this day and age.

The lapse in updating is owed to some computer troubles I’m experiencing on my home computer, which I should, fingers crossed, be able to get fixed on my return.

Nasri done deal?

Yes, I would think so. The major hold up was the small matter of the Euro 2008 but now that France are out, eevrything should be cleared up rather sharpish. The player himself yesterday confirmed that he had signed a four year contract with the club on his website though Marseille and his agent later went on to rebuff such claims. Arseblogger understands that everything is pretty much near to completition but for whatever reason, there’s hold up on Marseille’s end, who perhaps want to get a replacement in before the deal is announced good and proper. If further confirmation was needed pictures of Nasri appeared last night on the Arsenal website if you did a little digging. These though were later removed.

My take is it is as good as done, like 99% done if not more and that it was done a long time ago otherwise Wenger would not have opened my mouth. All we are waiting on is official confirmation from Arsenal or Marseille.

Russia pulled off the shock of the tournament to date when they beat Holland 3-1, albeit taking until extra time to do so. This wasn’t a lucky victory either, Holland were not at their best but Russia certainly were. They should have had the game done and dusted long before Van Nistelrooy managed a late equalizer for Holland. Some are tipping them to go all the way but I don’t think so. Their defense is shaky and they aren’t ruthless enough in the finishing department. Well played to Guus Hiddink who got one over on fellow countryman Marco Van Basten (who will be taking the reigns at Ajax next season) and has continued an excellent managerial record at international level.

They face Spain next, the same Spain who beat Russia in the group stages by a 4-1 margin. This time round Russia have Arshavin though, the revelation of the tournament that everyone has been talking about. He was banned for the opening two group games. What a year for Russian football. First Zenit St Petersburg win the UEFA Cup, giving favorites Bayern Munich a hammering en route and then Russia reach the semi final of Euro 2008. Arshavin was integral to both achievements.

International tournaments are not the best judge of a player. People can get carried away when in fact the quality levels often vary. Arshavin though isn’t an unknown quality and was raved about for the duration of Zenit’s UEFA Cup run. Wenger knew about him and if he wanted him he would have signed him before Euro 2008, like Nasri. If Hleb leaves though he may be an option. The Euro wont neccessarily have raised his price tag because he apparently has a minimum release clause in the region of ten million. Arsenal target? Possibly, but only in the event of Hleb’s departure.

The other semi final is Germany V Turkey. Turkey are missing several first team players, including star Nihat to injury. I will be very surprised if they beat Germany, shocked even, certainly a lot more than when Russia beat Holland.

My gut feeling is that it will be a Spain V Germany final. Russia and Turkey have done well to get so far but I think their tournament is over.

Speaking of the Euro 2008 final, guess who will be in attendance at the Ernest Happel when it all kicks off? That’s right, me. I wont be in any normal seat either, no, I’m in a box. I’m jetting out to Vienna Friday and will be spending my stay in a luxury five star hotel before returning Monday.

There was some interest in Gael Clichy from Italy. He responded though by signing a new contract. Well played Clichy, who is fast becoming a fan’s favorite.

Fabregas says he’s going nowhere, again. Surprisingly actually transfer speculation concerning him has been a little unexpectedly light. He commits his future to the club anyway, which is great.

Hello Aaran Ramsey And Chelsea Appoint ‘Big Phil’

Okay so it’s not official official in that Arsenal have yet to announce Aaran Ramsey’s arrival on the website. That however is because they wait until it is 100% done and dusted before unveiling him. Manchester United could take a leaf out of that book. They became the favorites after announcing on their website that they had agreed a fee for the player. But no, Ramsey chose Arsenal. Good man.

Seventeen year old Ramsey made his Cardiff debut on the final day of the 2006-07 season. The following season, that being the one that has just seen Man Utd been crowned European and Domestic Champions, saw more of a role for Ramsey who battled his way into the first team. He went on to make 22 appearences, an impressive figure even at Championship level for a player of his age.

I have not seen much of him myself but he is highly rated and I’m pleased to get one over United as ever. You can never have enough potential so no it doesn’t bother me that we have signed another kid. Five million’s a large sum by Wenger’s standards. That he is prepared to pay such an amount for a seventeen year old just shows the faith he has in what he can become.

Chelsea have replaced Avram Grant or Jose Mourinho rather given that Grant was always seemingly a tempoary manager until someone with more managerial credentials was found. The new man is ‘Big’ Phil Scolari, known for winning the World Cup in 2002 with Brazil, turning down the England job and punching an opposing player. Yes, he is said to have a bit of a temper. Despite an impressive international record, Scolari has yet to dip his toes into the art of European club management, which is interesting. It fits with talk that Roman Ambravavich wanted a disciplanarian in charge, someone who will take no shit from his players.

If you want my take on whether it is a good appointment or not I honestly don’t know. Hard to see him being as good as Mourinho.

The Euro has picked up a bit. Since Holland’s 3-0 victory over Italy Spain have beaten Russia 4-1, David Villa scoring a hattrick and demonstrating just what all the fuss is about. Fabregas scored the other and got an assist too and that was in a cameo role. Portugal, yesterday, beat the Czech’s 3-1 in a game which saw Cristiano Ronaldo open his Euro 2008 account. It was a decent goal actually. Portugal have now qualified for the next round of fixtures.

Today I’ll be watching Croatia V Germany, kick off at five on ITV. The game I’m looking forward to tomorrow is France V Holland. Being a Friday and all I might miss it though.

Barcelona have reportedly launched an eight million pound bid for Hleb. Eight million’s not good enough for me, not after the season he’s had. We need to at least make our money back and really should be looking to make a profit. Twelve million would not be a bad figure, providing he wants to go that is. Talk that we wanted Kolo’s brother Yaya as part of the deal to fill the void in defensive midfield left by Flamini but Barcelona don’t want to let him go. I don’t think we will accept eight million for Hleb.

Wenger has hinted new defenders are not neccessarily needed next season. Whether that means he couldn’t get who he wanted, is keeping his cards close to his chest or believes that our defensive issues can be solved in another area of the pitch (midfield?) I don’t know.

There is also talk that we might be in for Roque Santa Cruz if Adebayor departs for Milan. I personally don’t think it will happen, Adebayor’s move that is and if that’s the case, I doubt very much that a move for another striker will materialize. I rate Roque Santa Cruz though.

And that is all for today.