Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Nick Simmonett 
Date:Sunday April 22 2007
Time: 3:05PM
UK time is: 02:37:10
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Baptista Exit Rumours Are Rubbish
I thought I should report what I've just seen on Real Madrid TV.
A Spanish Journalist, and close friend of Julio says he has spoken to Baptista recently and he rubbished claims made by The Times that The Beast wanted to try his hand at Real Madrid again next season.
The Times published what they claimed was an interview with Julio Baptista in which he tore into life in England and the English game.
Speaking to Real Madrid TV the journalist said: "I spoke to Julio only last week and he is very happy with life in England and he loves being at Arsenal."
He went onto say that Baptista hopes to stay at Arsenal next season: "His only complaint is that he doesn't play enough but he is determined to do well there.
"I think The Times interview was wrong, it isn't Julio. He tell's me Arsne Wenger sees a lot of potential in him and wants to keep him."
Weather you think it's good news or bad, at least we know Le Boss has to option to take him.
I haven't been his biggest fan on late but if Arsene Wenger sees potential in him, that's good enough for me.
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Your Comments
He won't be here next year. Diaby is preferred to him upfront, not the action of a manager who wants to keep a player.
Little Dutch
Well I want him to stay, he can oly get better so give him a chance and if he wishes to stay then let him. Now it depends on wether I believe the english press or spanish media.
gunner-minesh
As with most things Arsenal lately, I'm not sure. As LD said, Wenger played Diaby as a supporting striker ahead of Baptista. It could be that he is having trouble adapting to the Premiership, in which case he could show the sort of form he did in his Sevilla days. But if we're talking about £10-£12Million then it's a big gamble to take.
simmy8_2000
I hope you keep him....he come on yesterday and was **** for you lot!!
matt..shelfsidespurs
But he was still better than the whole spuds team (except berbatov). Quite frankly I hope he leaves, we need someone better than him.
Ashburton Gooner
I hope the guy stays its his first season at Arsenal some people take a little while to get ajusted to the premiership. Pires didn't score so many in his first season too. I feel people are being a little harsh towards the guy and hope he screws up just so they can bash him some more. A scape goat of some form.
Gunners
Baps is a forward, he should be scoring goals. You can legitimately blame him for not doing that. Poor touch, cant head the ball, cant take penalties. Only thing going for him is he can hold the ball up well but as we dont play the long ball game whats the point. I say lose him and aliadiare and get one big name striker...Saviola anyone?
MeetTheGunners
If we were going to keep Baptista he would be playing right now. Our attack is so weak atm and we still dont use him.
simon
yea him and aliadiare on there way and a good striker who will just score goals for us that what we need
ajwb
I hope he goes...to make way for Bendtner
AB_Arsenal
In truth though goalscoring is one thing you can't have a pop at Baptista for, he's ruffled the net plenty. It's the rest that hasn't impressed. Bendtner scored a cracking header from a corner today.
Little Dutch
we need to buy the little argentine from down upton park im TELLING you !!
hazzagooner
I was supportive of Baptista for most of this season, but lets be honest his touch hasn't improved since day one. At first I though it was because he is rusty not playing much at madrid an all, but even when he got a run of games it didn't improve. It was then I wanted him gone.
Ashburton Gooner
Arsene will get this one right. Baptistat just needs to trust him, I hope he does stay, he must be some player as we were going to pay £20mill for him last year. Arsene doesnt spend that kind of money on a dodgy bit part player.
gunnerb
Two games he has impressed in, but hes looked average to poor in every other match. Hes missed too many sitters for a striker trying to earn his place. Arsenal dont owe him any more chances.
MeetTheGunners
I hear all this talk about Berbatov and I think its crap, has he looked good against the big boys this season? No.
gunnerb
I was excited at the prospect of 'The Beast' joining us, and even accepted that he was a little ring rusty due to lack of first team games. But now having been given the golden opportunity to shine, an opportunity that won't arise again once Van Persie and Henry return, he has shown us how much, or how little, he can do. Baptista, I'm afraid is one of Wenger's few unsuccessful gambles in the same mould as Jeffers, Diawara and Vega. Whatever potential Wenger sees in him is known only to Wenger himself! Baptista should go, but Aliadiere IS worth hanging on to!
NineteenNinetyOne
I hope he moves to Iran.
landmonster
What to do in Iran?
Play Iranian League which is rubbish?
afghenry
With Henry and Van Persie out of the team we need the rest of our players to step up and bag important goals in important games and most of the time they haven't done that. Baptista is one of those players that gives virtually no attacking inspiration whatsoever. In hindsight, we'd have done better to have kept Pires for the 2 years that he wanted. He knew where the net was and, sadly, Baptista doesn't. He's not even a bench player, let alone first team. I really hope he goes, along with Ljungberg and Lehmann. All three players are costing us points in one way or another.
RedNWhite
I agree RedNWhite
Lehman is the reason we concede so many goals from corners and free kicks
yes he is calss keeper but only sometimes
afghenry
My sentiments are like most of the ppl's here. I had hopes for him, but now I feel he's been given a lot of chances but he hasn't fulfilled them to our expectations.
ducksworth
i thinks we shud keep baps.. if we got ourselves a "big name" striker, where would we play van persie and thierry.. we should let aliadierre and lehmann go... n seriously put in bids for buffon and ribery.. both have said they wanna leave at the end of the season.. imagine having ribery, cesc, diaby/silva and rosicky at midfield... i can see the silverware already, with that midfield of course... my vote, the beast to stay, just for the sake of putting money where it's worth
McGooner
If Buffon joins us then I dont think teams like bolton can score so many goals againts us from corners and free kicks!
afghenry
FOR ***** SAKE! can we get anything our ******** way!!
Goofle
Its a tough one with Baptista. You want to believe he can better much like Drogba has once he adapted to the game here. On the other hand his performances and body language hasn't been good. I think if Wenger could get him to be more lean and he can adapt his game to Arsenal's style and the English game, and be right mentally, he has the attributes to do really well. Whether he stays or goes, I'm 100% that will be the right decision because Wenger has seen him at close quarters.
Gooner_Vin
brazilians like the sun on their back,simple!
springy
his first touch is absolutely terrible. i remember the replay with bolton in particular his touch being absolutely dreadful. ill admit if he can just get settled and get anywhere near that sparkling sevilla form, he will truly be "the beast"
ahops101
i think i would be satisfied if we sell the beast and aliadiare and got Bendtner back as a cover for henry and van persie and if reyes comes back he is much better than baptista,LITTLE DUCH can u plz tell me where i can watch or downlod Bendtner's goal today???
princeoflove909
Let Baptista go, Freddie , Ali and but not Lehman. He is just going through a iffy spell. He is a good keeper. Plus Wenger doesnt have 25 mill to spend on Buffon. Now Carson or Douglas, now that would be an investment. Also Babbel from Ajax, Ribery would cost to much would replace Freddie and I would go with Bendtner. Plus we need an Right back as Hoyte just does not cut it.
themadafrican
Eboue's my name sake so I would never get rid of him.
themadafrican
wenger saw potential in cygan, not good enough for me
thenry009
Curious if anyone actually saw him play for Sevilla. Was he a completely different player there? Is it a simple matter of confidence or adaptation? The one I see doesn't have the techinical ability to play for Arsenal. If he could head properly and put away the chances he's got, then ok, maybe he offers something different. A scavenger in the box, bundling in ugly goals. But if he can't do that, he's useless. He doesn't pass or dribble well enough to be a shadow striker, and despite his moniker, hasn't shown the physical ability to hold up the ball as a target man. Wenger won't pay 10mil and up for a 4th or 5th choice striker.
Tripping
I've seen him at sevilla, he was much better. He had a much better workrate and would make nice passing plays. He also scored a lot.
thenry009
I was also willing to be patient with him, but now I'm not so sure he deserves to stay. Its not a question of his goals, or his commitment, but he just needed to show us that his adapting to the premiership is only going to be a matter of time (not now, mebbe in a few months), and so far, I havent seen that. So it will be a gamble to buy him now.
prits
i was one of baps's biggest fans but even i have to resort to the fact that he will probably leave. shame, cause he was immense at sevilla.
triceratops
Stay put the beast
Mudhara
he's got 3 games left to convice Le Boss... »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
Baptista's crap. Compare to Kalou, Kuyt, Martins, Berbatov, Johnson, Larsson, Carew etc. All adapted well in their first seasons. This lad is of the equine variety, and is no thoroughbred. Should look for a career in prizefighting or wrestling. If his touch with a football is anything to go by, he'd be a great kickboxer. He needs to go. Interesting take on Pires, if 2 major knee injuries is a success, maybe Baptista is a sucess too.
FAB 4
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