Pizy

One of a few Dutch players who will probably be United players come the start of next season. Our new LB is probably already sewn up.

I have to agree with this to be honest.He doesn't really have that "it" factor about him like Suarez, RvP, Aguero and those guys who just about every time they get the ball you're expecting something special to happen. He doesn't score any spectacular or magical goals where he creates some magic out of nowhere. Just about all of his goals are pretty simple ones. All of them count the same, though. I do think he's clearly a level below those top strikers. He's not the type of player who can single handedly win you a match even if your side is playing like shit like RvP did for United and Arse a couple of seasons ago.

That, ladies & gents, is Torres encapsulated in one moment. Served up a chance on a silver platter, he overthinks the situation, and fucks up a sure goal.

I just kinda cringe and look away so many times when I watch him. You just know he's going to do something fucked up or petulant every match. Really hope he can be kept under control here or else he's going to be sent off and suspended a whole lot in England. If there were any other world class striker available I'd avoid Costa like the plague, but he's really the best we can do without spending £60m.

Unless Mikel himself insists on leaving then I'd rather just keep him than sign Tiago. Still a useful tool late in games to lock up shop and protect a lead.

Seriously, what's the point of bringing in Tiago? We have Ramires, Mikel, and MvG as squad players there. Mikel plays his very specific role excellently and bringing in another midfielder would seriously dent what few opportunities MvG would've had as things stand now. Seems like a completely pointless signing even if it won't cost anything.

This is the most nonsensical signing I've seen in a while. Leave a big club where you're a nailed on starter and in the CL to be a backup somewhere else.

I......probably would've taken that swap if Khedira gets fully fit.

Don't know what's funnier, the Arse fans burning Cesc shirts and yelling at at Wenger/the club or the Arse fans trying to justify passing on a world class player for under £30m by saying "we didn't need him!" Let's see what happens when a minimum of 2 of their starting midfielders gets a long term injury next season as is inevitable at that club. I'd also be laughing my ass of if Wenger actually goes into next season with Arteta & Flamini as their DM's. I'd discount their title winning chance completely if that happens.

The Oscar bandwagoner's are out in force on twitter. He's gained about 100k followers today. I swear he has just under 100k yesterday and now has over 220k.

He'll be the ultimate "small club" slayer I think in addition to being a key player in the big games. He's going to put chance after chance on a plate for the players in front of him. Hell, maybe even Torres can score a few if he stays.

Seems like I say this for a whole lot of foreign players, but he speaks better English than some of the English players.

That Barca statement is shocking. Utterly classless.

What an unbelievable signing. Who could've imaged we'd sign someone of this calibre only a short few weeks ago? Hopes have become reality.

HE JUST TWEETED IT HIMSELF!!!!!!

Is he in an interrogation room there? Looks like a convincing fake to me.

Yeah, at this point I couldn't give a shit less about them getting a few million. It'll just go into the Arse bank vault never to be seen again or squandered on some unknown French kid.

"Likely" this and "likely" that. He'll be a 60 year old man by the time the deal is sealed.

John Cross was probably sobbing uncontrollably typing that one up.

Balague is also a known Chelsea detractor and Mourinho hater. He probably took pleasure in tweeting that Cesc hasn't agreed to join us and that the move may not happen just to laugh at angry Chelsea fans replying to him. I still remember wanting to punch him in the face during the CL for saying we play like a small club.

Other clubs battling with us for his signature sounds a bit more believable then needing to wait a week to give Arse the chance to decide whether they want to activate this mysterious clause.Everyday for the past week these supposedly "reliable" sources keep saying that the deal to us is on the brink or immenant and then nothing happens. Other clubs trying to recruit him and negotiate with Barca sounds like a plausible reason why he hasn't moved yet.

Oh FFS. Balague's latest tweets are infuriating.

I'd have banned you for you avatar alone, but that's just me.

What's to consider and take their time about? This isn't some unknown or unproven foreigner who they need to scout extensively. He was at their club for years and they know precisely what they'd be getting.Arsenal should be able to know immediately whether they want him back or not. He's clearly not the type of player they need.