Aulas: Ben Arfa Likely To Be Sold
Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas told the French media that highly rated winger Hatem Ben Arfa is likely to be sold this summer, but only for the right price.
The 21 year old who has been constantly linked with The Gunners throughout the season, is likely to be shipped out of Lyon this summer with French rivals Marseille favourites to snatch the left wing wizard away from “Le Gones”.
Aulas told Marseille newspaper La Provence:
“If they (Marseille) contact us for Hatem, will we be ready to let him go? I say: Why not? I have nothing against that. Marseille is a big club where Hatem could play his best as much as abroad.
The idea of seeing keeping him in France would be more attractive for me. It would be a fine thing for the Ligue 1.”
It’s a massive blow for Arsenal if Aulas’ quotes are true. He seems more comfortable with selling Ben Arfa to a fellow Ligue 1 side rather than a top Premier League side abroad.
Does this mean it’s the end of the rumours linking the winger with Arsenal?
No, not at all, Aulas is a very difficult businessman to deal with, but I feel he still could forge out a deal for Ben Arfa if Wenger offers the right price.
Source: La Provence
May 7, 2008 at 6:39 pm
all aulas is trying to do is bump the price up by saying he’d rather sell to another lique 1 side..we now sir wenger wont be held to ransom!
May 7, 2008 at 6:41 pm
We apparently have the money, so AW should spend it.
May 7, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Did anyone see where my chickens went ?
May 7, 2008 at 6:50 pm
AW needs to buy fast before giving the wrong impression to the rest of the squad.Buying shows he means business and that can’t happen.Buy Ben arfa and another 3-4 asap.
May 7, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Who says we have the money ?????? net outlay of zero over the last 2 seasons tells a different story….bring back Dein & get rid of Hillwood
May 7, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Different websites, blogs tell you different stories mate.
May 7, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I really don’t know if Ben Arfa is what we need. Sure, he has talent, pace, close control, etc, but he looks like another youngster with poor decision making (Diaby, Walcott, Bendtner, etc). He could develop into a quality winger, but he is not what Arsenal need right now. We need established, experienced players who can deliver. My ideal signing, in terms of Arsenal’s attack, and bearing in mind our limited budget, would be Andrei Arshavin.
He would be the ideal replacement for Hleb, while offering us much more of a goal threat, and plenty more assists. If Hleb stays, he would be perfect support for Rosicky, and might even replace either one in the starting XI. He’s got tons of European, International, and club experience, is just entering his peak at 26, and would probably only cost around £8M. Sign him up!
May 7, 2008 at 10:41 pm
HOT OF THE PRESS…
HLEB HAS LEFT!
May 7, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I really like the look of Clichya and Traore on the left wing last sunday. They were lightening quick and would destroy most right backs in the league. Therefore, WHile I think Le boss will sign ben arfa, I don’t know if he is needed. In feb, le boss said he’s buy ben arfa if he was available.
I would love Arsenal to sign Benzema tho. He could be our rooney and simply destroy defences. Although i think bendtner is going to explode next season. even tho his temmates hate him.
May 7, 2008 at 11:40 pm
hey Trevor I do agree with you on that! Arsenal does not need another to-be-great-player right now, they need more experience that could boost up the young starlets, especially with the older ones leaving..
btw has anyone heard the roumors of adebayor being wanted by barca????
May 8, 2008 at 6:06 am
This is vintage Aulas…I don’t know why OL is even considering ditching Ben Arfa….the BenBoys are the only reason Lyon has (the slimmest of) hope in the CL.
Ben Arfa would be a great acquisition for Arsenal for the future, but he’s still two years away from being a consistent player (right now, it seems as if for every transcendent performance he has, he follows it up with a no-show), and as was stated previously, Arsenal’s got plenty of future greats and now might not be the time for Hatem. PLEASE let him mature at OL for a few more years…
May 8, 2008 at 8:32 am
yes zslot I saw that but then it says that Ade turned them down. Good for you Ade, stay loyal.
May 8, 2008 at 9:17 am
i think all we should be doing now prof wenger is to be talking about how we will get good replacement for flamini and incase hleb leave.we need good experience player go to spain,brazil get good quality 5 and 6,also an outstanding midfieder who will replace flamini.wenger should tell us why he did not buy diogo from brazil when he has the chance to do so.get us david villa up front and we as good as anything.ben alfa is a good player at least for time to come.
May 8, 2008 at 10:23 am
i think arsenal need hatem and be used as asuper sub for his pace as the likes of walcott.swapping adebayor for eto’o would be a good idea unless he improves his scoring ability and passes.as for ,he is a fantastic player(his headers and chest control are superb).we also need a better centre back to play with kolo toure(should be next arsenal captain).
May 8, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Well as mentioned above, Arshavin would be an ideal signing for Arsenal. As for Hatem, I think that he can be really selfish at times, and his decision-making isn’t the best. Having a player like Hatem could be good, as he takes defences on with a swagger, but I don’t think that’s in line with Arsenal’s style of football.
So alongside Arshavin, Arsene Wenger should get any of Raul Garcia (fine passer and dribbler), Alberto Aquilani (a Flamini-type player; dunno if Roma will sell at all) or Manuel Neuer/TImo Hildebrand/Roman Weidenfeller.
May 8, 2008 at 1:23 pm
i hope wenger will buy kompany,johnson as well as swap etoo with ade
May 8, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I think we need a killer striker who will be able to finish the job. Instead of Ben Arfa, I think we need a Huntelaar or Benzema.
May 8, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Benzema would be a class buy, maybe Arshavin could join, he’s another great finisher we’ve been linked with.
May 8, 2008 at 5:18 pm
1 problem at a time maybe how pll are looking at arsenals situation but infact we have solutions for 2.
1. alex song is ready to replace flamini not sol campbell as wenger is being trying out lately.and before you say anything,song came back from the anc as the best midfielder of the tournament.and the tournament had palyers like like essien,yaya toure,fendouno and makoun in itand that sholud speak for itself.
2.carlos vela is more than ready for the prem,l have watch him as much as l could all season and after the torrid time he gave ramos in the real madrid match, i say he’s not the finished article but tell me how many of the current arsenal players were when they got here.
good day gooner
and to hell with the other chipmonks
May 8, 2008 at 7:45 pm
I think Hatem Ben Arfa is the best for Arsenal next season because he is fast in running with the ball he is best at pace and bribbling.so if you put Hatem Ben Arfa at the left side and you put Theo wallcott at right wing adebayor and Van Persie will do their job right. MR professor please buy him!
May 8, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I think AW (professor) must Buy top players one two top Defenders,3 or 2 midfielders and two best strikers which can shoot and dribble
May 9, 2008 at 4:20 am
Forget about Ben Afra, we should sign Aulus as MD. That guy is amazing with transfers.