The Arsenal Topic #22

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Lewin to take up England position

Arsenal phyio Gary Lewin is to leave the club to take up a permanent role as head of physiotherapy with England.

Lewin has worked part-time for the national team since 1996 but will take up his full-time post from 1 August.

"I'm delighted that Gary is joining us," said England coach Fabio Capello. "He has a tremendous amount of experience and will be a huge asset."

Lewin added: "I'm obviously very sad to leave Arsenal after such a long time but very excited about the role.[

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Aaron Ramsey is to join Arsenal from FA Cup finalists Cardiff City in a £5m deal, BBC Sport understands.

Champions League winners Manchester United and Premier League giants Everton were also fighting to sign the 17-year-old Welsh wonderkid.

But Ramsey has chosen Arsenal after the Gunners flew him out to Switzerland for face-to-face talks with boss Arsene Wenger, who is at Euro 2008.

Unlike United, the Arsenal deal does not include a loan back option.

Cardiff have confirmed that Arsenal' bid for their highly-rated youth academy graduate was the "best cash offer" for the young star.

Ramsey, who has made just 22 appearance for the Championship side, is expected to have a medical at Arsenal's plush Hertfordshire training ground within the next 24 hours.

A Cardiff City statement read: "Cardiff City were informed on Friday morning that Aaron Ramsey's preferred destination this summer is the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal.

"We will now continue the dialogue with the Gunners with a view to Aaron's move being completed.

"The move, unlike other options, does not include a loan back period at Ninian Park for the 2008/09 season.

"We would like to wish Aaron every success in the top-flight."

Ramsey, the most wanted player outside the Premier League, was given a welcome and a guided tour around Manchester United's state-of-the-art training complex by Old Trafford captain Gary Neville last Friday.

The promising Wales Under-21 international youngster also spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson on the telephone as initially the double Champions League and Premier League winners looked favourite to sign Ramsey.

United even put a statement on their website on 3 June, announcing: "Manchester United is delighted to announce it has agreed terms with Cardiff City for the transfer of Aaron Ramsey subject to terms being agreed and the player passing a medical."

Cardiff made no secret of the fact they wanted Ramsey to join United so to take advantage of the loan-back agreement.

The Caerphilly-born playmaker met Everton boss David Moyes before being flown out on a private jet to Basel on Saturday to meet with Wenger, who has now beaten his old rival Ferguson to landing Ramsey.

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Op dinsdag 10 juni 2008 10:47 schreef DutchGooner het volgende:
Weer een buitenlander

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Cesc Fábregas hoopt dat David Villa (foto, links) na zijn uitmuntende partij tegen Rusland - waarin hij drie keer scoorde - de clubleiding van Arsenal definitief heeft overtuigd. Volgens de middenvelder zou de aanvaller van Valencia - die bij een bod van 40 miljoen euro mag vertrekken - uitstekend in de Londense gelederen passen. (Diverse Spaanse media)

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Op woensdag 11 juni 2008 14:53 schreef Tim86 het volgende:
Rosicky hebben we ook nog

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Nasri 'agrees Arsenal contract'

Nasri only appeared as a substitute in Euro 2008 for France

Arsenal have won the race to sign France midfielder Samir Nasri from Marseille, BBC Sport understands.

The 20-year-old, who has been dubbed the new Zinedine Zidane, has reportedly agreed a four-year contract and will join after Euro 2008.

Nasri, who has made two appearances at this summer's European Championship, has spent the last four seasons with the French side.

He came to prominence in France's U-17 European Championship side in 2004.

The 20-year-old is believed to have a £13.5m buy-out clause in his contract.

Nasri joined Marseille as a nine-year-old and made his league debut during the 2004-2005 season.

Last season, Nasri, who can play on either wing, won the French first division's young player of the year crown and was voted Marseille's player of the year by fans.

This campaign he scored six goals in 30 games for the French outfit with the final strike in his tally coming in the 4-3 win over Strasbourg last weekend that helped secure Marseille's berth in next season's Champions League.

Nasri had appeared at various youth international levels for France before winning the first of seven senior caps in 2007, though he only came on as a substitute as Les Bleus exited Euro 2008.

The BBC's Football Correspondent Jonathan Legard said: "Arsene Wenger had hoped to complete the deal before Euro 2008 but now the official announcement will come after the tournament.

"He could be a replacement for Alexander Hleb whose future remains the subject of speculation."

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Barcelona in talks to sign Hleb

Midfielder Hleb joined Arsenal for £11.2m in 2005

Barcelona vice-president Marc Ingla has confirmed the club are in talks to sign Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb.

The 27-year-old Belarus international has long been linked with the Spanish giants, with Inter Milan also keen.

Ingla revealed on Catalunya Radio: "Barcelona's negotiations with Hleb are still in progress.

"But despite him being a player with special qualities, if his club are not ready to sell him, we have other options in mind."

Earlier this month, Hleb's agent said the winger had met representatives from Barcelona with a view to a transfer.

"We have had talks with Barcelona but nothing has been signed," Uli Ferber told BBC Sport.

Hleb has held discussions with the Gunners, but there is now a strong possibility that he will be leaving the club this summer.

The midfielder had been linked with a move to Inter Milan but the Serie A club's appointment of Jose Mourinho appears to have ended any chance of that move.

I'm baffled as to why he'd want to go to Barca. Maybe it's the weather

"I'm sorry that we won't be able to take him to Italy, he liked Inter a lot but obviously Mourinho has made some different choices and has gone for some other names," said Hleb's representative Vincenzo Morabito.

Earlier in the season, it was reported that the former Stuttgart midfielder held secret talks with Inter when in the city ahead of Arsenal's Champions League game against rivals AC Milan at the San Siro.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger threatened to report Inter to football's governing body Fifa if they continued their 'illegal' pursuit of Hleb after former boss Roberto Mancini declared his interest in the player.

Hleb joined Arsenal in 2005, signing a four-year contract, after the club paid Stuttgart £11.2m for his services.