Statement from Arsenal today:



Laurent Koscielny has refused to travel to the US for our pre-season tour.

We are very disappointed by Laurent’s actions, which are against our clear instructions.

We hope to resolve this matter and will not be providing any further comment at this time.

Peanuts and monkeys....these lads need to be on more money.

What Would Bob Lord Do?

The problem is what exactly can you do...

Hitting them in the pocket means nothing.

It is beyond a joke tbh

Hibsclaret wrote:The problem is what exactly can you do...

Hitting them in the pocket means nothing.

This is it. Bit of a problem for clubs, now all these guys have enough money to not be arsed about missing a few wage packets until they get what they want.

You can take a stand if you want, but you're writing off millions on an asset in 12 months time. Not that my heart bleeds too much for the clubs.

Interesting to see what it is about.

Players get a bad rep.But taking your players around the world to play games during pre season is ******* stupid. It’s a time to get fit and ready for the season ahead. Not make as much money as you can.

9 years at the club, made captain, now 33, helped through injury troubles and has found himself with one year left on his contract....Wants a big payday before his contract runs out? Kerching.

Neymar fined 350k.

Like he gives a fcuk

Apparently Koscielny wants the club to terminate his contract so that he can move on a free to Ligue 1; suggestions are that he has three firm offers there but that the clubs concerned cannot afford the £10m fee that Arsenal want for him.

Koscielny's opinion is that after being at the club for 9 years they should recognise his long service and let him go for free as a thank you.

As he's club captain too this is really going to get messy from hereon in...

That sort of stuff helps finance his 100k plus per week wages though. If you are employed by a club it should be in your contract that you may have to travel worldwide. He is likely in breach of contract and there should be a way of punishing that. Maybe more focus on the players agent in terms of punishment. Really no idea how they can fix this sort of thing.

Don’t play, don’t pay. Park him for the season. I know it’s not as simple as that but it’s a start. I think they can only fine them 2 weeks salary but does that apply for each offence?

Did Tarks do something similar around downing tools at Brentford to force his move to us?

He’s absolutely gash anyway, they should rip his contract up based on his ability and let him tarnish his own legacy in the process.

Devils_Advocate wrote:Did Tarks do something similar around downing tools at Brentford to force his move to us?

No

ClaretTony wrote:No

What happened then cos he refused to play in the match against us didn't he?

Devils_Advocate wrote:What happened then cos he refused to play in the match against us didn't he?

Brentford defender James Tarkowski says personal reasons were behind his request not to play for the Bees against Burnley earlier this month.

In a statement, the 23-year-old revealed his mother is suffering from a "serious, incurable illness".

"In the run-up to the match against Burnley, I felt completely frazzled and unable to concentrate properly," said the centre-back.

"I thought that my distraction may result in an error."

He added: "After much thought and consultation with the gaffer, my family and my team-mates, I felt unable to guarantee my usual standard of performance and said as much to the gaffer."

Thanks 4:20 makes sense. So he refused to play and looked to force a move back up north but obviously for very very good and understandable reasons.

I do wonder how a lot of people on here would react if the shoe was on the over foot. There's already a fair few who give Eddie stick for wanting to return south for his personal reasons

4:20 wrote:Brentford defender James Tarkowski says personal reasons were behind his request not to play for the Bees against Burnley earlier this month.

In a statement, the 23-year-old revealed his mother is suffering from a "serious, incurable illness".

"In the run-up to the match against Burnley, I felt completely frazzled and unable to concentrate properly," said the centre-back.

"I thought that my distraction may result in an error."

He added: "After much thought and consultation with the gaffer, my family and my team-mates, I felt unable to guarantee my usual standard of performance and said as much to the gaffer."

Don’t reckon it mattered whether he played or not that game. We played like the 1970 Brazil team in the first half and declared at 3

Devils_Advocate wrote:Thanks 4:20 makes sense. So he refused to play and looked to force a move back up north but obviously for very very good and understandable reasons.

I do wonder how a lot of people on here would react if the shoe was on the over foot. There's already a fair few who give Eddie stick for wanting to return south for his personal reasons

No - he wasn’t trying to force a move back north. He wanted to move back because of his mum and Brentford had accepted that and said they would help him to get s move. He was not in a good place that weekend and he agreed with the manager that he wouldn’t play.

Hibsclaret wrote:Don’t reckon it mattered whether he played or not that game. We played like the 1970 Brazil team in the first half and declared at 3

We were sensational in that first half. I remember Tarky playing against us in the home game with a mask on his face.

ClaretTony wrote:No - he wasn’t trying to force a move back north. He wanted to move back because of his mum and Brentford had accepted that and said they would help him to get s move. He was not in a good place that weekend and he agreed with the manager that he wouldn’t play.

Fair enough but I looked it up after asking the question and Brentford took internal disciplinary action against him for refusing to play so I don't think it was quite the amicable discussion and decision with his manager as you are making out.

Regardless Tarks actions is totally understandable under the circumstances and I agree with your initial answer to my initial question that it isn't comparable with what is going on at Arsenal.

It was also bloody cold that night. Brrrr just thinking about it

Devils_Advocate wrote:Thanks 4:20 makes sense. So he refused to play and looked to force a move back up north but obviously for very very good and understandable reasons.

I do wonder how a lot of people on here would react if the shoe was on the over foot. There's already a fair few who give Eddie stick for wanting to return south for his personal reasons

Not so sure the reason is any better or worse than Howe’s, to be honest.

Didn’t Eddie’s mum die so he wanted to move back down south to be nearer to his family? (Completely understandable)

And wasn’t Tarky’s mum poorly so he wanted to move back up north to be nearer his family? (Again, completely understandable)

The same reasons but one is completely vilified on here.

looks like they will flog him to Palace as part of the king's ransom for Diving Zaha

Apparently Laurent Koscielny's feeling upset and unsure of his future.

He's been told he's no longer allowed to use his hands....

BurnleyFC wrote:Not so sure the reason is any better or worse than Howe’s, to be honest.

Didn’t Eddie’s mum die so he wanted to move back down south to be nearer to his family? (Completely understandable)

And wasn’t Tarky’s mum poorly so he wanted to move back up north to be nearer his family? (Again, completely understandable)

The same reasons but one is completely vilified on here.

Only vilified by the same village idiots it's always been.

BurnleyFC wrote:Not so sure the reason is any better or worse than Howe’s, to be honest.

Didn’t Eddie’s mum die so he wanted to move back down south to be nearer to his family? (Completely understandable)

And wasn’t Tarky’s mum poorly so he wanted to move back up north to be nearer his family? (Again, completely understandable)

The same reasons but one is completely vilified on here.

It's like the family type code.

Think they call it "turning a blind eye"

Bit of Claret tinted glasses above. Tarkowski refused to play for Brentford as he wanted to get the transfer to us forced through.

I wouldn’t have thought he’d think twice about doing it again tbh. It’s just the way it is these days.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ampionship" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wasn't the story we were fed that Eddies wife didn’t like it up Norf?

BurnleyPaul wrote:Apparently Koscielny wants the club to terminate his contract so that he can move on a free to Ligue 1; suggestions are that he has three firm offers there but that the clubs concerned cannot afford the £10m fee that Arsenal want for him.

Koscielny's opinion is that after being at the club for 9 years they should recognise his long service and let him go for free as a thank you.

As he's club captain too this is really going to get messy from hereon in...

£10m for a 33 year-old who has at best been average in the last couple of seasons,they're having a laugh.

He can't be allowed to go on a free as he's contracted,but i'd have thought a nominal fee 3/4 million max would suffice.

Unless any of the aforementioned Ligue 1 teams have players to throw into the mix as bargaining tools.

Whatever he won't be their next season,too many bridges have been crossed now.

Tricky Trevor wrote:Wasn't the story we were fed that Eddies wife didn’t like it up Norf?

Both Trev...
His Mrs wouldn't move away from family and had a bairn... then Eddies mum passed away being the straw that broke the proverbial camels spine...

Devils_Advocate wrote:I do wonder how a lot of people on here would react if the shoe was on the over foot. There's already a fair few who give Eddie stick for wanting to return south for his personal reasons

The personal reasons Eddie gave in public and the private personal reasons of why he actually left are completely different.

claretburns wrote:The personal reasons Eddie gave in public and the private personal reasons of why he actually left are completely different.

So publicly he wanted to go home because of his mum passing and his wife struggling with a newborn kid etc.

What were the private reasons then?

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote:So publicly he wanted to go home because of his mum passing and his wife struggling with a newborn kid etc.

What were the private reasons then?

They are private which is probably why he kept them that eay

I imagine if Sir Alex had been his Manager he'd have been looking for another club, come to think of if Stan would probably have done the same and rightly so.

beddie wrote:I imagine if Sir Alex had been his Manager he'd have been looking for another club, come to think of if Stan would probably have done the same and rightly so.

Which is exactly what he wants

Eddie Howe was one game away from the sack.After our gutless performance in the cup v Swindon he was a dead man walking.Eddie never "got" Burnley the way Sean has

ClaretTony wrote:They are private which is probably why he kept them that eay

Private yet people on here seemingly know what they were? Aye, alright then.

People need to stop sulking over Howe leaving. We’re now in a place we never would’ve been under his leadership anyway.

I liked Howe’s style of football, when it flowed it was a joy. However I prefer life under SD, it may not be fluffy but it works a lot more regularly. I have no ill feelings toward him, had he not gone that ginger bloke who was wandering around Watford with his P45 would not have been out to show football what he could do with a club like Burnley.

Hibsclaret wrote:Don’t reckon it mattered whether he played or not that game. We played like the 1970 Brazil team in the first half and declared at 3

Spot on. One of the best halves of football I’ve watched from us.