The Book Of Exodus: Chapter 3; Samir Nasri

In the last chapter I told of how I expected Samir Nasri to be the next player to leave the Emirates, and this week I was proved right. The strange thing is, I don't find myself too upset about it anymore.

Without a doubt, the Frenchman had been on mercurial form over the last couple of seasons, even if he did go off the boil after Christmas last year. However, his total lack of grace and the way he carried himself in trying to force through his move to another club, any other club, was all wrong in my book.

Unlike his former captain Cesc Fabregas, Nasri was extremely vocal in expressing his desire to leave. First he wanted to go to Manchester United, then Manchester City, then to either Barca, Real Madrid or Manchester United again but if none of them come through for him then Citeh will do. As it was, it was the blue half of Manchester who were able to gain his signature and all for the paltry fee of an estimated £24 million pounds and £175,000 a week. So it wasn't about the money then Nas?

He wasn't even above slagging off our fans, first moaning about songs being sung about him, proclaiming he was still an Arsenal player. The point is Samir, you didn't want to be. He then went on to say that he felt the fans didn't have enough passion, unlike the backward facing dancing fans of City. A point he then went to deny, even though it is on tape. Strange.

Any way, I guess I should wish him all the best blah, blah blah, but I don't really want to. See you in December Samir.

The Book Of Exodus: Chapter 2; Cesc Fabregas

So the most protracted transfer saga in recent memory has finally come to an end. Cesc Fabregas has finally left the Emirates stadium and returned to his home town club of Barcalona, banking Arsenal £35 million in the process, and maybe it isn't before time.

Arsene Wenger himself said that if he wanted to he could have commanded a much higher price for Cesc by auctioning him off to the worlds richest clubs but, knowing that he only wanted to play for Barca, he wouldnt do that. So why not sell him earlier on in the summer then?! Any way, I digress.

As much for my girlfriend as anything :)

I have to say I think the way Fabregas has conducted himself during this saga has been nothing short of exemplary. In a time when all players seem to be only be motivated by money when it comes to transfers (Samir Nasri anyone?), Cesc has had no thoughts of the sort, making it clear that he wants to return to the club he was at until the age of 16. This fact is underlined when you see that he is waiving a million pounds of his wages for the next five years to help pay the transfer fee.

His farewell to the club and thankyou to Arsene Wenger was also high class, acknowledging the part that Arsenal has played in his development. Again, this is something we dont see enough of these days.

 I guess all that is left now is to say a very big thankyou for the eight years of high quality football that El Capitan gave us, maturing from boy to man, he led the team with pride, always playing with a swagger and extreme confidence and was a joy to watch. Adios El Capitan.

The Book Of Exodus: Chapter 1; Gael Clichy

As I expressed in a previous blog, Gael Clichy wanted to leave Arsenal this summer, and his wish has come true. However, This is not going to be a bitter rant about how our top players are all leaving the club. Well, not just yet anyway.

I would like to start by thanking Gael. At the club for eight years, he was also the last standing member of the much fabled "invincibles" and therefore, the last remaining league title winner we had in our squad. Having joined the club at the tender age of 17 and continued to improve year upon year under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, even breaking in to the France International team.

Gael has quite easily become one of the best left backs in world football and there is no doubt that Manchester City are getting one hell of a player. I can only hope that he was able to pass on some of his knowledge on  to young Keiran Gibbs. Good luck Gael.

Gael Clichy, the last of the invincibles

Now, on to the negative side of all of this. Clichy has said that he has joined City because he wants to win trophies. Well, you have gone to a club who has won only one trophy in the past 30 years, their best player, their talisman Carlos Tevez is desperate to leave, albeit for personal reasons, and if there is the predicted influx of more big name signings, the how long will it take for the new look squad to gel?

Furthermore, what is the need to criticise the club that has nurtured you, encouraged you and helped you to improve every year for the last eight years of your career? Surely you should leave with good grace and gratitude, thanking Arsenal for helping you to win whatever few pieces of silverware that you have.

So mini rant over, I do genuinely wish Gael all the best with his new club, although i hope is best at Eastlands isnt as good as what we have witnessed at the Emirates and of course, Highbury.

I fully expect there to be a chapter 2 of my book of Exodus very shortly, now doubt featuring either Samir Nasri or Cesc Fabregas, so watch this space.