Flamini gone, Hleb going, is there a crisis at Arsenal?

Fri, May 09, 08 14:25
Rank it:
RSS  Digg  del.icio.us
What`s Online:

Mathieu Flamini: Milan bound (gettyimages.com)

The rumours surrounding key Gunners players have been building, but we've seen it all before at the Emirates. Does this current swirl of transfer talk constitute a club crisis?

'Arsenal's first team is as good as any, but strength in depth is where titles are won'

With Mathieu Flamini already packing his bags on his way to AC Milan, a whole host of rumours have permeated about the futures of many of Arsenal's prized assets.

Many of the key players in the Gunners' title push have emerged as either unhappy or ready to leave. But which ones should Wenger be worried about and does this constitute a crisis?

Firstly, the loss of Flamini is a huge blow. The defensive midfield position has become something of a phenomenon in modern football following the successes of Claude Makelele, and it appears that Arsenal do not have any ready-made replacements.

World-class alternatives on the transfer market appear limited and so Wenger could struggle to find a suitable replacement. Only Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra stands out as a possible signing.

Following Flamini out the door could be Belarussian Aleksandr Hleb. The winger has repeatedly expressed a desire to move over recent months and a transfer to Internazionale looks to be coming sooner rather than later. Despite two years remaining on his contract, Hleb looks set to buy himself out of all ties to Arsenal.

Stories in the press today remark that star striker Emmanuel Adebayor is requesting £80,000 a week to stay at the club. Whilst not an outrageous demand by today's standards, the fact that he is raising the point in the media before the end of the season suggests a level of unhappiness with his situation.

And, as always, rumours persist about Arsene Wenger's prodigy Cesc Fabregas. Never too far from transfer speculation, Real Madrid's president would have us believing he has the Spaniard on speed dial.

Flamini and Hleb will leave gaping holes in the Arsenal first midfield. However, with the emergence of Theo Walcott as a potential winger and Tomas Rosicky ready for action come August, the only desperate need is a defensive midfielder to complement Fabregas.

Which brings us to the crucial factor. Should Fabregas or Adebayor also head out of the Emirates, Wenger would have real cause for concern. The duo have been the consistent outstanding performers for Arsenal this year and to lose either could set the club back significantly.

Wenger has spent years nurturing Fabregas from a young prospect to an international standard central midfielder and no amount of money could compensate a manager keen to build his side around the youngster. 

We have seen the outcome of an 'Arsenal crisis' last year with the departure of Thierry Henry, and in 2005 when Patrick Vieira headed for pastures new. Wenger seems to have the ability to pull rabbits from the transfer market hat whenever he needs it. However, a four-man exodus could be a crippling blow to an already fragile Arsenal squad. As has been said throughout the season, their first team is as good as any, but strength in depth is where titles are won.

If Fabregas and Adebayor should leave as well, Arsenal would indeed be facing a crisis that Wenger would do very well to navigate successfully.

Who should Arsenal buy in the summer? Post a comment below or submit an article to Sportingo.
Rank it:
RSS  Digg  del.icio.us
Comments
Jack Straw (09/05/2008 17:39)
Of course not. The only one Wenger needs to keep is Fabregas. All other players are replaceable. Adebayor out? Bring in Villa. Hleb out? Bring in any winger who scores. Flamini out? Bring in Song or some unknown French DM who's better than Flamini.
(09/05/2008 17:57)
Adebayor 9th May 2008... Source Arsenal.com Reports that I want to leave are rubbish.
(09/05/2008 18:24)
My my, the amount of Arsenal shirts being swapped for this seasons more successfull teams like Man Utd, Chelsea and even Tottenham has gone through the roof. Where have all the so called Arsenal supporters gone from this site that were giving it all the mouth a couple of months ago? I seem to remember quoting just after the fantastic result over Milan veterans that the best you lot will end up with is third place and ZERO trophies, ha ha ha!!!!!!
Cheesy Pufta (09/05/2008 18:33)
History is a voice forever sounding across the centuries the laws of right and wrong. Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral law is written on the tablets of eternity. James A. Forude Clasp your heart and cushion yer arse for the drop. good riddence
(09/05/2008 18:33)
don't panic
(09/05/2008 18:37)
Tell Martin Jol about your morals Spud.
Essexian76 (09/05/2008 19:10)
How rich we are, how much our warchest was, how great our kids are, what a great stadium we have, well players going for nothing is not good business, thats why we sold Defoe, stadiums cost money, thats why we're planning ahead and you've got a massive debt;good players cost good money, thats why we've invested in them and you cant afford to hang onto yours..as its glory and winning things that matter all the rest is peripheral, big stadium, big debt, big interest on big debt equals no money for squad...back to knicking lead I suppose
(09/05/2008 19:13)
How much did you get for the Double man SOL CAMPBELL?
(09/05/2008 19:20)
Hang on to those memories gooner, looks like thats all your going to have to look forward to! If the likes of Flamini desperately want to move to a deteriorating club like Milan then it really does show the way your club is going! Looks like its back to the Bruce Rioch days, if you know what those were like! The modern day Chris Kiwomya is on his way!
(09/05/2008 19:26)
Rioch signed DB10 he started the revolution!
Essexian76 (09/05/2008 20:07)
from that scumbag by outing Defoe, unlike Wenger eh?.
(09/05/2008 20:42)
Yes he went on to win two premierships and two FA cups, When his previous side won jack, Flamini hasn't proved he can win anything yet. And if you had of got rid of Defoe the year before instead of keeping him on the bench you would have got more money for him thats the way it is chap.
(09/05/2008 20:57)
What we are going to do is take Defoe off the bench and sell him for nine million then buy Bent for sixteen million pay twice as much wages and put him on the bench. See you on Dragons Den! Ramos
king ledley (09/05/2008 23:39)
whingy wenger is a pillock why did he let diarra go who's going to play flamini's position gilberto? don't make me laugh. you gooners are on the rocks COYS
(09/05/2008 23:50)
He let Diarra go for 3 million pounds more than he paid for him........ If Spurs are so clever why are they trying to buy him for 10 million when they could have got him direct from chelsea for 2 million last year?
Jonny (09/05/2008 23:59)
Wenger is an absolute genius when it comes to bringing in the best central midfielders- Vieira, Petit, Diaby, Flamini, Fabregas, Gilberto. Flamini will not be missed. He has an excellent work rate and has been our most consistent player this season but if he can't accept the wage structure and gets too big for his boots after one good season then I'm happy to see him leave. Hleb is a fantastic player who I think will excel at Inter if he does leave. So we've lost two players? Wenger will bring in more, for half the wages at half the cost.
ssemanda Dennis (10/05/2008 01:01)
Mr.Adebayor,thanx 4 the blur you tied the manager.Don`t u see that you are the poorest striker in PL? infact i wonder how you managed to flook scoring 30goals,you must be fixing games with goal keepers.
Essexian76 (10/05/2008 03:35)
How Cool is that, Campbell was the sole reason you WERE a success, hats off to us I'd say. Love these history lessons, Viara going was great wasnt because you've won so much since his departure?, Pires has done OK since he's left you!, Flamini gone for SWFA!, Yes AW knows best.........My ribs are so sore, deluded s mild for you buch of heather selling caravan dwellers
(10/05/2008 12:57)
Give us a history lesson on what Arsene has won at Arsenal then Ian... We know both the cups Spurs have won so don't bother with that... Then have a think about who's deluded..
Essexian76 (10/05/2008 13:08)
Err
Won, are we talking recently, like this season?, when your great manager subjected his own fans to the biggest humilation possible, you know the games 5-1 and 4-0 thrashings and then justifies or tried to at least by saying that the cups dont matter, if thats the case why bother playing football in fact,I know Arsenal dont have anywhere near as passionate of fans as we have have, but why not pay for you to go, or at least charge you reserve matchday entrance, after all; you just sound like Spurs fans these days "but we play great football, but win nothing" Four years matey and counting! lesson over Kids spanked
(10/05/2008 13:42)
The clue to the years we are talking is What as Arsene won at Arsenal? Have a look who won the FA cup in 2005 whilst doing your research. Then as a maths lesson for you 2008 minus 2005 equals....
Essexian76 (10/05/2008 14:16)
2009-2005 EQUALS FOUR , And thats if you win anything next term!, Oh by the way where the money, the wealth from your boasts of being a big club?, why did Dien leave?, Why is the guy who made the 'warchest' boast on his bike, why has Flaminini gone for nothing, and the icon Henry sold for peanuts?, simple no dosh to pay wages, same as Judas, Pires and many others, you simply cannot compete in the market at the moment, because of debts and the interest accrued from them. Perhaps that will change but methinks its a Russian billionaire thats going to save your sorry backsides, sound familar?, whereas we self generate, without the cash from countless european CL failures, and are still profitable and accountable, yes we've under performed but we have to do things the long way around trail and error, and most of us have no illusions about the size of the task, but and heres the thing, we've maintained a fiercely loyal support, with a mediocre mid table side, and that must stick right in your craw!, its called loyalty, not band wagon jumping as is evident by your lack of support at away games!, additionally was the streaky FA cup win valid then?, because your manager said those cups dont matter!, you cant have both ways
(10/05/2008 14:36)
Dumbarse! What season is this that hasn't finished? err 2007-2008 Arsenal pay more wages than Liverpool and are only just behind Man U (not Chelsea they do pay more). Arsenals lack of away support is in your imagination it's what you want to believe. The hard core of fans are still at the club like in the eighties when we had larger crowds every season than Spurs but when you are as successful as Arsenal you are going to pick up glory hunters on the way. ...Please look these facts up and stop living in your deluded 2009 world....And if you find any different let me know where you have found them
Esseixan76 (10/05/2008 15:05)
Your away support is pathetic, you know it's far behind West Ham and Ours.(about par with Chelsea) No2, Your success WAS when?, you've sold your soul, your stadium, Oh and your players (Or given them away), and still bleat on about how wonderful things are, if failure is that appealing perhaps you should have jumped on a different bandwagon, as I said you cant say anything about the cup win over Utd, as it along with any other domestic trophies that was null and void accordlng to Arsene Whinger, or is that only when your thrashed comprehensivly and humilated do you use that tired and feeble excuse! 5-1 Oooh that must have hurt..Eh?
(10/05/2008 15:29)
I cannot say anything about the FA cup win because you say so! When I started supporting Arsenal, Spurs were still gobbing it of about the double they won so no band wagon jumping here chap!
Essexian76 (10/05/2008 16:31)
Its Arsenal supporters, who defended Graham and Mee before him, because they won things, boring, negative,dull and uninspiring;perhaps, but irrefuteable winners..at any cost!, which my old mate is the simple reason you support them, it wasnt for their attacking football was it?, so it was you (Arsenal) as winners and us and the Eel Eaters who supplied the entertainment and the occaisional cup victory, never a sniff of the league, but so what, its a glory game...or was
Joel Cairo (10/05/2008 19:54)
Now that the real season has ended for real fans, its time for Spurs fans to crawl out from under their rocks, grab the hookah, foresee Arsenal's doom and Spurs' rise, and enjoy the only season where Spurs shine -- the summer. Last year, there was 8 points difference between the two. Today, there are 28 points difference. Its sad, really. In the past few years, Arsenal have outperformed Spurs on the field and in the economy. If any clubs are likely to implode under the weight of their debt, its Liverpool and ManU, not Arsenal. None of Spurs acquisitions last year matched the value or impact of Sagna or Eduardo. Spurs do not have the economic base to challenge Everton, Villa, or Newcastle for the fifth and sixth spots, despite being in a bigger market. Do you think building a stadium gets easier the longer you wait? Oh well, enjoy the next few months. And remember, someday Spurs will no doubt finish higher than Arsenal -- even a broken clock tells the correct time twice a day.
(10/05/2008 21:14)
If I was a gooner Id be really pissed off with the amount of money I was spending on tickets and mechandise yet the COMPANY known as Arsenal FC have no intention in putting anything back into the buisness, sorry I mean club! Face it your all getting mugged off!!!!
(10/05/2008 21:34)
I'd say with the quality of football at the Emirates they are the best value tickets around(would you pay to watch Chelsea?)
(10/05/2008 21:36)
The problem Arsenal face as a club is that they have recently invested a hell of alot of money into a huge stadium. Alot of Arsenals fanbase expected to fill this stadium for years to come has been built up over recent years due to them being the club enjoying the most success up until a few years ago. The problem Arsenal now face opposed to clubs like Spurs and West ham is that they dont have a large number of what you would call die hard supporters and if the trophies dont start rolling in soon, then expect a mass exodus. Just look at the amount of kids in the south east now walking around in Chelsea shirts!!!!!
(10/05/2008 21:40)
So how come Arsenal got better crowds in the eighties before they got success, if they haven't got your so called die hard support?
Essexian76 (10/05/2008 23:46)
more away supporters went to Highbury, who incidentally had a bigger capacity, as much of the WHL stadium was renovated during the Eighties. East Stand closed 1988, West Stand 1981-2, so stats are lies and memories are short. Mr Cairo hows your accountancy degree going?
Essexian76 (10/05/2008 23:50)
Arsenal were not successful in the eighties?, seem to recall them crowing over a semi win against us 1987, winning the league by a fluke 1989, losing to LUTON in another final 1988, I think I know more about your side than your own followers
(11/05/2008 00:08)
Upton Park was developed in the nineties (South stand 93) ( North stand 95) (West stand 01).... and you said I must not count the cup wins so we only won one divison 1 title. And you do talk about Arsenal more than Spurs.
Ameho Joseph Toyin [Tombolo] (11/05/2008 03:23)
They say- when there is life there is hope. Professor Arsene Wenger ride on ride on the fewer we are the more understanding we get. just try to buy players e.g obafemi martins to strike with adebayor etc. prof get some african in our midfield..................
(11/05/2008 10:50)
This is my point, do you really think this fella who is commenting above me was really a so called Arsenal fan back in the eighties? If Arsenals trophy rate contiues to plummet will he still buy his Arsenal shirt every season? The fact of the matter is alot of Arsenals modern day followers would have no hesitation whatsoever in changing clubs in the not so distant future if the drought continues, you just have to listen to all the whinging comments to realise that. Spurs went nine years without a trophy, yet the ground is always full and theres twenty odd thousand fans on the season ticket waiting list, West ham and Newcastle are simular to. The problem is with alot of these glory hunters is when the glory dries up, they hunt elsewhere!!!!!
Essexian76 (11/05/2008 13:13)
Would never support such a debauched bunch of cheating scumbags, I know about them because my brother was a gooner and we used to alternate games, as you could then. Watched many games at Highbury, and actually loved the stadium, the pies and the banter (when your smiling), but in all honesty football was better at WHL, its only recently that Arsenal fans have been able to say that, which is my point, do you watch football to be entertained or to see your team win, I know the short answer is both, but only ManUtd have achieved that in the Premiership era
Curtis Neal (11/05/2008 20:51)
I think that the fact Arsenal players will leave for more money is shameful. For one, ALL of the Arsenal players were nobody's before they came to Arsenal, they have ALL been developed to a high standard by the Greatest manager that ever graced football : Arsene Wenger. One great asset to replace Flamini would be Yaya Toure, because he would have a great connection with the defence, as his brother is currently in defence at Arsenal, and he is a spectacular young, keen defensive midfielder. Walcott would definitely fill Hleb's boots. But, as always, Wenger will pick up another nobody and turn them into a superstar. I am an Arsenal fan and I feel that as long as Arsene Wenger is the manager of Arsenal, the team will always be thriving, playing class football, and be fighting for all championships. He just needs the financial support to build on what he has, and to keep players that he has. Hope everyone feels the same way about these issues. Curtis Neal
gary griffin (12/05/2008 12:25)
i dont know where to start i cannot believe so called fans really write this cack, bandwaggon and arsenal dont mix and r we succesful or not i thought you had to be a big club first before you can jump on, away support well real fans dont go to games anymore stadiums are full of rich upper middle class idiots, who can afford 1390 pounds a season and then traveling costs its a joke, and arsenal could fill the emirates 5 times over easily.if it was 20 quid per game,not 70 quid 4 the cheapseats, its all of us who are being mugged off, and to the tottenham boys laughing cos we didnt win the league, its just sour grapes cos you spent a fortune on crap players and still finished somewhere in the middle, by the way a medical report came back to arsene wenger, genius,that henry and ljungberg have shin splints so the rigours of playing premiership games every 4 days for 8 mnths of the year was impossible 19.3 million for 2 players whos average age is 30 cheap na dont think so, 18.5 million for darren bent that is a joke, the grass aint greener the only player who has realised his potential sinse leaving is bentley. please only submit intelligent conversation, thanks, gooner for life.
gary griffin (12/05/2008 12:58)
interesting comments about financial issues from curtis, yes i share your concerns about finances, i have wondered are we as rich as we make out but the financial report does not lie we are the only club who have loads of it. but with players being able to buy out their contracts now, no wonder arsene buys unknown talent, i would go mad if we paid 25 million pounds for someone and then for them to leave after a couple of seasons, you might aswell throw it away like tottenham have, newcastle liverpool,even sunderland have spent equivellant amounts of cash. i have no worries as a gooner contracts are not worth the paper there written on. fifa representatives are now thinking about english dominence in european competions, ie a ban on foreigners only five per club and all that rubbish, this guy has got to go, he is just gutted german football is fixed the same as italian football, if that was arsenal man u and chelsea caught cheating we would have been banned from playing in europe for 5 years. mmmmm, flamini left because he was offered 80000 euros a week about 60000 pounds 5 grand more than we offered him another cashly cole scenario, it was the italian tax code thats was the deciding factor he will take home more in italy its as simple as he is. yaya we had him on trial and didnt give him a contract so i think its unlikely he will come. ben arfas as good as done hleb isnt all that for 2 seasons he was dire and this season he has been better thats it. not worth what we payed which was 9 million not the 11 million thats been reported, walcotts better anyway and younger so is rosicky, zenit st pettersberg central defender midfielder and striker signs for the arsenal in 26 million triple deal, no stress no worries.
craig (12/05/2008 21:10)
very bad for you, but Arsene wenger is a manager i respect alot. his eye for young talent is probably the best in the game (and i dont just mean england i mean the world) but whats the point if you just turn in to the sporting lisbon of england. and what io mean by that is you produce fantastic players but cannot hang on to them ,howmany timesare you going to produce these fantastic players and let them walk, i mean look how you let the invincibles break up, why did you let them leave, arsene will probably find some more super starsfor next to nothing, but you have to follow them up with big contracts in order to keep them when theyt mature, arsene will always keep you in the top 4 no doubt and probably on a small budget, but the premier league has changed, with the emergence of chelsea it now means that both man u and chelsea will have to have abad season for you to win the league and that will just never happen, you won the league three times because we had bad seasonssimple as, that wont happen now which super rich chelsea, if hleb, flamini, and another player goes thats a lot to loose from the smallest squad out of the big 4, if you dont want to be like sporting you must change your ways
(12/05/2008 21:42)
Man U ain't paid for there squad yet they owe 56 million in instalments (check the net bud)
Essexian76 (13/05/2008 12:55)
That every purchase by Wenger is fantastic, that is until they up and leave, then suddenly they're past it or rubbish. OK genius if just by being in the prem is worth 40million, then add marketing etc 15million, then the revenue from gates at say 20million, that very loosely should equate to 70 million approx, why is your budget for new players only a meagre 25 million, its not as though you've spent big is it?, mind you whenever Wenger has paid out large fees, they've hardly been a roaring success, so the question is can he keep digging up gems or does the magic only last for a period of time?, replacing Flamini is going to cost you 15 million alone, why then haggle over 5k?,
pius etim (13/05/2008 17:53)
pls sir if we self HIEB and FIAMINI who are the new player we are going to buy, pls l like massage to reply me back to my mail, and also sir pls list the name of new prayer that we are going to buy. it is my etimp@yahoo.com, from nigeria. i m arsenal fc fans.
pius etim (13/05/2008 17:56)
pls sir if we self HIEB and FIAMINI who are the new player we are going to buy, pls l like massage to reply me back to my mail, and also sir pls list the name of new prayer that we are going to buy. it is my etimp@yahoo.com, from nigeria. i m arsenal fc fans.
Add your comment here
PERSONAL ABUSE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED







*
Display your favourite sport or football team badge with your comment.
Sport
League
Team




Daily Poll

Who will win the Champions League?