The King Returns Home: Goodbye and Hello

What a busy day transfer deadline day is! Its just like Christmas eve when mothers rush around shops looking for things they can buy at the last minute, the only difference is that this is football and more money is involved. Both involve one thing, pandemonium. We know many football fans spend the whole day on the internet, on their phones, radios what ever device to try and find out who's moved, who's staying. For many Arsenal fans this is just a normal day.

The transfer market has closed now, but we have some news. We didn't mention this news during the deadline day countdown as we wanted to surprise many. Arsenal have confirmed the signings of Eric Asamoah from Liverpool and Umberto Postiglione from PSG. Umberto is 22 years old while Eric is 23 years old. Earlier on in the transfer market Henry bought experience and now he's brought in a bit of youth too.

Eric Asamoah is rated very highly and Liverpool were determined to keep him at Anfield but the player expressed his desire to move to Arsenal. He claimed it was a "compulsory step up" in his career. He was signed for 35 million as Arsenal to had to fight of other heavyweights to get his signature down. The Ghanaian made a total of 37 appearances for Liverpool in the two seasons he spent there. Asamoah signed a 150k p/w contract with the North London side just minutes before the deadline. He is a very strong and fit centre back, blessed with great defensive skills. Eric has made 24 appearances for his nation, scoring one goal.



Arsenal's second transfer deadline day signing is Umberto Postiglione, another player rated highly. Just like Asamoah he felt he needed to leave PSG in order for him to really quick start his career. PSG certainly looked down on him as they kept him in their reserve team. In 3 appearances for the PSG reserve team he scored 3 goals. Arsenal's scouts found out about Umberto and couldn't bare let such a talented player go to waste so they made an inquiry about him and were told to pay 8.25 million, a complete bargain for such a quality player. He will earn 43 k p/w. Umberto is very quick, strong and is a dribbler blessed with clinical finishing. Just what Arsenal need. It will be interesting to see if he will be the starting striker or not. We assume he will battle it out with Robert Lewandowski to be the starting striker with RVP being back up.



Arsenal have been criticized for not splashing the cash, well they have so now as in this transfer market they spent 65 million.. There have also been some players who have left the club. Antoine Griezmann has joined Athletic for 22.5 million, John Stones has joined Liverpool for 6.75 million, Wilfried Zaha left the club to join Southampton for a 19.5 million. Lacina Traore left the club, due to too much competition for 14.5 million, he joined Dortmund. Jean Marie Dongou, a player once rated highly joined Leicester City for 4.3 million. Arsenal's total income from transfers was 68 million. This just means they have 3 million extra to add to the 195 million they have in the bank.

Hatem Ben Afra rejected a move to Southampton on transfer deadline day as he insisted Arsenal would still pay him his contract money for another year, Arsenal rejected this and so the deal seeing him move to Southampton collapsed.

Postiglione looks like a player and a half! - The Future

2013-06-04 14:31#108812 KingPadster : Postiglione looks like a player and a half! - The Future

I agree, he is quality

Arsenal manager, Thierry Henry has publicly urged the FA to change the youth academy set up in England in order for the country to produce more quality home-grown players. In an interview, when Henry was asked about the youth set-up at Arsenal he was quick to make out a valid point. Here is what Henry said:

''Arsenal have a very good youth set up, we try and bring in players when they're young and then we train them and develop them and turn them into to world class players. Unfortunately these days that's not happening with the majority of clubs. If you're not 6'4, muscular or quick as Usain Bolt then a club will reject you and simply tell you "you're not good enough". Its all rubbish in my opinion. Size does not play football. Look at players such as Iniesta, Xavi, Messi. They are all under 6 feet but they're world class players, size is nothing. The problem with academies these days is they think they can only accept brilliant players who are already amazing. They fail to realize that they should accept players they feel have potential and work on them so they fulfill their potential. In the last few years how many players of Jack Wilshere's quality has England produced? Only Wilshere himself, then look at what Germany have produced the likes of Reus, Gotze, Kroos, Muller. England must try and sort out this problem as soon as possible if they want to win anything in the future because the youngsters of today are the stars of tomorrow. If they don't produce quality players, it will affect them in the future.

Arsenal's academy is one of the standout academies in England. Many of their graduates actually go on to play for the first team unlike the majority of other academy graduates. Henry has made a valid point, but will the FA ignore his cry or take it as advice, we don't know.

Awesome month

2013-06-05 08:56#109146 Seni :

2013-06-05 10:32#109117 KingPadster : Awesome month
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A very good month indeed

Looks like your quote broke there, may want to fix it

On a 190k a week, he better keep grandpa van Persie on the bench

2013-06-05 13:25#109149 Arvind : On a 190k a week, he better keep grandpa van Persie on the bench

He's not even been in the squad!

2013-06-05 10:32#109117 KingPadster : Awesome month

Very good month

Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp has come out with a powerful, yet arguable statement about his former team mate and old friend Thierry Henry. The dutch man played for Arsenal for 11 years before retiring in 2006. Bergkamp and Henry were known for their No.14 and No.10 relationship, both were strikers but Bergkamp would play just behind Henry as a support striker. In his astonishing career he made 315 apps for Arsenal scoring 87 goals.


Yesterday, in an interview with LBC Bergkamp praised Henry and claimed he was the best player he had every played on the pitch with for Arsenal and the best ever Arsenal manager. Here were his exact words, "Thierry is as good as a manager as he was a player. I've never seen someone with his passion and determination before, he is a great role model for all young children out there. In my opinion, and I know many may disagree with me, mainly Tottenham fans and some United fans, he has surpassed Sir Alex and is the greatest manager ever. So early in his managerial career he has done very well. The reason why he is better than Sir Alex as everywhere he goes, he uses the same tactic, and it results to the same thing, trophies."

Bergkamp was in London for the weekend to watch Arsenal's game vs Newcastle which they won 2-o, thanks to goals from Umberto and Lewandowski. Obviously Mr Dennis is still a gooner. His words did cause a bit of commotion among many football fans as people were not shy to phone in and disagree with Bergkamp, luckily for him, he had left to make his way to St James Park. Many felt that Bergkamp was being partial due to the fact that he personally knows Thierry Henry.

A fan called LBC and said " I respect his opinion but I disagree, Sir Alex will always be the greatest manager in the world". Another fan called LBC and said " Thierry Henry is class but nothing beats the special one!".

What is your opinion, Thierry Henry has been a manager for 6 years and has won 18 trophies, is he the best manager ever?

Arsenal are one of the eight teams that were part of the Capital One Cup quarter final draw that took place earlier this afternoon. The seven other teams that had their names placed in a black ball and put into a pot are: Man United, Stoke, Norwich, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Everton and Sunderland.

All Crystal Palace fans would have been bitterly disappointed to see that they were drawn against Manchester United. Their brave cup run may be coming to an end, but this is football anything can happen. However thousands of Palace fans will have the opportunity of a life time to watch their team face United at Old Trafford, a very historic stadium. A few years ago, Leeds shocked millions by defeating United at Old Trafford, Palace could use that to motivate themselves.

Stoke City were drawn against Everton. The two premier league sides will play the fixture at the Britannia stadium. It will be interesting too see who comes out on top. Stoke have improved greatly as on many occasions they narrowly missed out on the champions league spot. Both teams will be going all out for the victory and a place in the semi final.

Norwich city will face Sunderland at Carrow road. With the home advantage, Norwich will be hoping they can go even further but Sunderland won't be an easy fixture. Currently Norwich are 16th in the premier league while Sunderland are third.

The final fixture drawn was Arsenal's. They were given championship side Aston Villa, a fairly easy fixture. This is a cup that Thierry Henry has won quite a few times and he'll be very eager to win it again.

Umberto Postiglione has got his gun fully locked & loaded!