Time To Issue Barcelona An Ultimatum

Totally agree. I rather think the deadline should've been set earlier, but I think Cesc's desire to go is rather strong this time and we've been trying to do right by him.

I believe in 2 things right now. One of either Cesc or Nasri will leave, but that hinges on Cesc. The moment Barca give up, Nasri will be gone. The second thing I believe in is that IF Cesc does stay then he cannot be given the armband for the new season. Finished! His time as Captain of Arsenal is over as far as I'm concerned. My god but can things become any more painful this summer? My belief and reolve in Wenger and our current team is on shaky turf at the moment. I am trying, but it's becoming more and more difficult the closer we get to the start of the new season.

This saga coupled with our hectic pre season schedule may end up costing us a breezy start to the new season if we aren't vigilant. I think the club should now accept that by virtue of Cesc's preference to join only Barcelona, we have to accept a 35 million pound offer to end this saga. Yes it would 5 - 10 million less than what we were hoping for but it would be more harmful to let this saga continue and destroy what little momentum our team has going.

What a pre-season we've had this term! It has been the most underwhelming I can remember, with all the uncertainty and gloom over the exact team we shall be taking into the season. We can't buy those we want at the first time of asking and can't sell those we want out, perhaps, because the buying clubs can't believe the salaries they are on. Something just has to give and I agree with the need for strict deadlines for all concerned, including Cesc. The gloves have to come off at some point.

Could we perhaps look at the Vital question facing us. Are we actually going to sign anybody else that could improve this squad? Because to me it is looking increasingly unlikely isn't it? I mean the everton defender Phil whats his name has prefered to stay at a mid level team instead of testing himself at the highest level. That speaks a lot about the guy and based on that would we really want him? Bolton have confirmed that we haven't even lodged a bid for Cahill and valencia now say Mata will not leave. So what now???

The only language Barca understand is the threat of something detrimental to their ambitions. Tell them that unless they pay the full sum of £40 million in cash before 15/8/11 Fabregas will play in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier that week and thus be cuptied for the season.

That's not the point Amos, the point is we need to get sorted for the start of the season, if Barca don't meet our deadline then Cesc will play for us for another 12 months, meaning we can concentrate strengthen other positions on the pitch with the money we know we have. It's not the story that matters, it's the need to get our preparation right for next week.

feckin sneaky weaselly spanish cunnies the lot of em. Find your stones Arsenal, they had their chance for this year and have p155ed it away (much like we did fannying around for Mata... there you go you live by the frugal sword) Get in this office Fabregas and sit down, dry your eyes, right so we tried, we let them know you were available to sell, they have relentlessly Wengered about with pathetically low offers and if they aren't ready to realise and meet what is only the low end of the market value then feck your paella snorting lizard compadres. Loads revolver and gets contract ready.. now give the armband to Thomas no not Tomas FFS!! Thomas and feck off back to training (presses button on intercom) send in that lesbian Nasri.

I don't see any possible future where Nasri will wear the armband. Niko, I'd like to see you promoted into the role of Player Relations Director immediately.

We'd soon stop that 'like a father' bollix smith that's for sure!

I can pretty much guarantee Bartley will be our new CB, we will not be buying Cahill Samba or anyone else.

Headline on arsenal.com within the next few weeks: 'Wenger - Bartley like new signing'.

I'd be amazed if it didn't Naija, Bartley has just signed a 4 year deal that in terms of our club means he's been given a guarantee of a large amount of 1st team action.

Quite right Sir H. There is absolutely nothing Arsenal can do about it except wait until the window closes if they haven't had an offer acceptable to them before then. In this situation unilateral ultimatums will change nothing.

I can't believe we would even settle for £40m never mind £35m. Wenger is far too soft. If i was manager I would explain to the board that another 4 years of Cesc in the team is worth far more than £35-40m in cash now. Cesc signed that contract himself, he wasn't forced to. He should be an Arsenal player until it runs out and then let him go. 'Settling' for undervalued amounts of money is just giving in to these teams who think they're entitled to every other teams best players when they want them. F*** Barcelona. Wenger saw talent in Cesc when they didn't want him. So he plays for Arsenal.

I don't think Wenger is dishonourable, he is undoubtably one of the most honourable men in football. It is always a busy summer for him he's a workaholic, it's what he does, and when he said it would be a busy summer for Arsenal he wasn't lying, he has been and is busy, just with none of the incisive & decisive go get your player ruthlessness that is needed. He hasn't the heart for the modern day transfer dealings that befits the superclub he has helped to shape. His fingers have been burnt before with relatively expensive signings that have flopped and he fears to be made to look foolish for shelling out for something that may not work. I dreaded this scenario, a close season of doddering, dithering and procrastinating, of half arsed offers laughed out of town, of a real struggle at shifting the underachievers and coasters off of our books, of making do and patching up rather than full diagnostic repair, of not grabbing the cesc/nasri scenarios by the scruff of the neck and taking charge, go and get Mata and Hazard, no scrimping no cutting corners, speculate to accumulate, invest in our clubs future with ready made proven class, not some green newbie from an academy. Then we are covered and we can bung fabregas in the cooler for 12 months to show Arsenal will not be f***ed with should Barca continue with their charade and we can recoup 20 mill for nasri from the arab. But no here we are, headless and pulled apart by the gleeful media on a daily basis. What a feckin mess.

I'm not ignoring your point Rocky. I understand it fully and agree that it would be better for us to settle this sooner rather than later. If an ultimatum or a declaration of any kind by Arsenal would do that I'd be all for it - but it can't - it'll only be settled when we have to let him go.

Good analogy Jaelle, with the exception that the democrats don't go and snatch the cream of the bunch from the republicans youth academy for peanuts and a faint whiff of revenge:) Everytime farca mouths off they should be repetitively be faxed pics of Bellerin, Toral Harper, Miguel and Fabregas. Throughout the feckin night if necessary so there'll be a huge pile of them to clean up in the morning. They wanna feck with us if I had my way they'd wake up with van nistelrooys severed bloodied head in their bed.

Well, now it's been reported that Kyle Bartley has rejoined Rangers on a season-long loan deal. Surely, Arsene must be confident he will get in a defender soon enough otherwise, he wouldn't be allowing that. Really hope we spice things up really quick.

What I'm trying to say Amos is that an ultimatum WILL allow us to settle, even if it's only for 12 months. If both parties know that they have a short time to act, they can either get the job done, or leave it for a season leaving Cesc in the knowledge he has to give his all for us for another 12 months without him dangling wondering if he'll get his move before the end of the transfer window when he's supposed to be playing for us. In turn we don't need to weigh up our options in the transfer market and we can knuckle down and sort other areas out.

Im going to repeat it again. All said and done, we are anal *****ed this season. If Cesc goes, we havent bought any new player to replace him, let alone , bed into the team.. Even if Mr Wenger goes and buys Mr XYZ on Aug 31st itll take another 3 months for that player to be part of the squad. Nasri looks like he is going to play for the shop window this season (may not be bad) - but dont know what message that sends out to the team.. And finally, if Cesc stays... how on earth can he still remain the captain for the season is beyond me..... In short we are *****ed...

Sajit, calm down! IF Cesc goes - and he has a contract, so it's up to the Arsenal whether or not that happens at all - we have nasri, Ramsey and Wilshere all capable of replacing him. And I don't mean 'filling in for a bit' I mean replacing. Those three are all as good as Cesc in centre-mid. I'm sure some will disagree with me - fair play - but when Nasri's plaed in the centre he's looked twice th eplayer he is out wide; creates, scores, dribbles, tackles. Ramsey is a fantastic young lad, almost at Cesc's level but younger than him, and Wilshere is Wilshere.