You can see why Wenger has such faith in the squad when you see us play like we did on Saturday

[Monty91]

I wonder how much closer to the top we could get if we were able to impose ourselves on more games like that.

[Pokster]

saying he got it wrong... never likely to happen.

[Dorset Gooner]

Or had we kept Van Persie :hide:

[Dorset Gooner]

[Pokster]

[Monty91]

[Dorset Gooner]

& we certainly didn't have to sell him to a main rival. I think that was Wengers biggest ever mistake, he showed weakness there imo.
I know I will get abuse from those that will say "What else could he have done" but he did have options.

[Monty91]

any idea whether it was tenable to force him to stay.

And given the lengths he went to to force the move - releasing that contentious statement - there's reason to think he wouldn't countenance the idea of staying.

[Rich]

Keep him against his will and see him go for free 10 months later and have significantly reduced funds to strengthen the squad?

Remember that Podolski and Giroud cost in excess of £20million.

[Pokster]

if we don't then he will get hammered for selling him....... it's a no win situation really

[Dorset Gooner]

[Rich]

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

[Dorset Gooner]

[Red N White Army]

To join Utd. Keeping him for the last year wasn't an option - we would have had a disruptive influence (the captain no less) in the dressing room, and couldn't afford to let £24m go. The bloke played us all for c**ts.

[Luis Anaconda]

can you imagine how disruptive it would have been in January (where it was quite possibly that he would have been attracting fairly bigs from the likes of Chelsea and City). It really isn't as simple as just saying if he had stayed against his will he would have been the same force as he was last year or for Utd this year

[Pokster]

they will have done if they hadn't signed him last summer

[Dorset Gooner]

& you never know he might have had a change of mind, these things do happen, Rooney?

[Dorset Gooner]

[PSRB]

still think £24m was decent money for him

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

[Norn Iron]

They usually end up in the 2nd tier.

[Luis Anaconda]

for fun. What makes you think it was a certainty if with a potentially demotivated RVP?

[Red N White Army]

Given the way he went about it, it's a good bet he wouldn't have taken being held to contract easily and we'd be significantly out of pocket. As much as we shouldn't care about the finances, it's easy to see why the Board accepted. It is a business after all.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Dorset Gooner]

well he would have sulked. He is a professional.

[Bergkamp's Brain]

unlikely imo

[Maravilloso Marvo]

He doesn't want to be there, do the best deal for him that you can, move on and evolve the team beyond him. We'd signed Podolski, Giroud and Cazorla to fill the gaps.

[Dorset Gooner]

[Monty91]

had he stayed?

[PSRB]

I'd far rather have got £24m from a rival than have go there on a free

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

[Luis Anaconda]

[Dorset Gooner]

[Red N White Army]

Giroud in particular.

[PSRB]

for 2-0 late on!

[Ashberto]

and generally cùnting off your employer is highly professional.

[The Tony]

Complete reinvention with new found defensive responsibilty.

[Red N White Army]