Wednesday Arsenal Round-Up

Hello there! How y'all doing? I've just switched jobs and that has accounted for the irregular posting. Will try to keep it going as often as I can, but I'm not making any promises.

Our title chase came to a grinding halt with the loss at Old Trafford, and this is another trophy less season for us.

As disappointed as we all are, we must take heart from the fact that this team can get better from here. We are not so much behind the pace as people think, and our performance against Manure will bear witness to that.

The important thing would be however on building on what we already have at the club, and the first thing is to keep this team intact.

While we have had plenty of rumours about Flamini heading to Juve when the season comes to a close and these are here and here and are heart stopping!

We cannot overemphasise the quality and energy that The Flamster puts in the engine room. Flamini is probably the only player in the world who can overshadow Gattuso as we saw in both legs of the pre-quarters in the CL this season.

The void he will leave, if we believe the rumours, will be immense. He is irreplaceable according to my book, and we have to hold on to him at all costs. What will happen? We will just have to wait and watch, as helpless as that sounds.

In a bit of catching up with yesterday now, Lee Dixon says that he has his doubts over Cap'n Gallas and that we need a new leader in the team, and makes a good argument to back it up, it's here.

Wrighty thinks that Wenger should get out his cheque book and "splash the cash" in the summer. He said:

"Not since Dennis Bergkamp have Arsenal signed an established, world-class player and it is frustrating."

Also adding: "In midfield, I'd like to see them trying to sign Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery or AC Milan's Andrea Pirlo. In defence, maybe someone like Roma's Philippe Mexes."

Ribery's name had come up last season, but Pirlo? I don't think we can prise him away from Milan's grip. Will decline to comment on Mexes, as I haven't seen too much of him to comment on whether he is what we need or not.

Wenger says stuff he has always been saying. On asked whether he was scared to spend money, he said:

"Scared of what? I would not be scared. We couldn't afford him (Ronaldinho) now so we have to forget it. But the money (we have paid out) is not comparable to what other teams have spent on players. For example with Reyes we got a big part back and for Jeffers a little part back. If we have the money and I am convinced it is worth it, we will do it."

There's quite a bit of work to be done in the closed season but Ade reminds us that our season is not over, not quite and you can read the full story here.

... And that will have to do, more tomorrow.

Have a good day you lot!