Congrats on taking advantage of our very own Peter Kenyon's idiocy. Diarra will be great for you guys I have no doubt. If I was a young french soccer player I'd be happy to be a gunner.
Very strange move by Chelsea. Surely they would have seen Arsene's track record with young French players. I am very pleased about the move though, he could be a decent player for us.
This is definatly one for the future (ie, after Gilberto) Cesc, Denilson, Diaby, Diarra will be our main central midfielders with the possibility of Flamini & Song leaving. While on Alex Song (i've been away for a week and this may have already been spoken of, so apologies if that is the case) did anyone see Arsenal's crossbar challenge for the French TV Channel? Most of our boys went close(ish), Almunia even hit it. But Song! Ha ha..... His shot barely left the ground, and he shanked it miles to the left. It was so Alex Song. Sorry to any fans of his but I'm hoping this signing really spells the end for Song.............
Great pick-up! Getting Sagna and now Diarra makes this a very good transfer season for Arsenal. Sure, no "big" names but this is some great, young talent Arsene brought in. Diarra can be our box-to-box MF or DM of the future. Plus, he can play RB or on the right wing if need be.
Good signing except for one thing. If our french squad members all make their NT we will be without Diaby, Diarra, Clichy, Flamini, Sagna, Traore and Sunu during friendlies and other internationals. If those 7 are all here and playing for us in 2 years we'd be totally screwd! ( don't we also have some other young frenchmen in our academy/reserves as well?) Not that I think it will happen but you never know.
I'm calmly ecstatic... this was a great signing. I still cannot believe they let him go. That was a bad thing by Kenyon. But who cares, Diarra is ours, and London is ours!!
As much as I love Gilberto, he is a very passive player. He's not the type to grab a match by the scruff of the neck. The only players we have that have the potential to do that are Diaby, and now Diarra. i think we'll all be very pleased with this move in a year or two.
completely disagree, Gilberto plays great defensive football, no reason to let him go. when did 30 become "dreaded age"? another thing, Diarra is a good signing but lets not get carried away
Clearly, my good sir/madam, you were too young to remember the '70s phenomenon called "Logan's Run".......this is also possibly why Gilberto makes very efficient and not ncessarily noticeable movements on the field, as he doesn't want to be seen as an out-and-out "Runner". Heh-heh. Carry on (wayword son)...
Did I say anything about how Gilberto plays or anywaything about wanting to let him go? He was one of our star players last season. I said dont be surprised if he is let go because at the DREADED AGE of 30 players are only offered 1 year contracts, and if we have plenty of depth is this 30 yr olds position I doubt Arsene will let his contract run out if he has reportedly been offered 10 mill from a club in Spain!
Lassana Diarra claims Chelsea thought he would cave in and sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge before finally agreeing to sell him to Arsenal.
3 year deal ? I thought/expected/heard it was longer .. .. Even the Arsenal site mentions it as a long term deal ..