Alexander Hleb agrees to join Arsenal Football Club

[Timonator]

www.arsenal.com (http://www.arsenal.com/)

Alexander Hleb agrees to join Arsenal Football Club


Belarus international midfielder, Alexander Hleb, has today agreed to join Arsenal from Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart on a long term contract, in a deal which could rise to approximately €15 million Euros. This agreement is subject to a medical and the player obtaining a work permit.

Hleb (24), who made 137 appearances in his five years with Stuttgart and has 18 International caps for Belarus, is a versatile midfielder with experience of Champions League football, playing in all eight of Stuttgart’s matches in the 2003/04 competition.

Manager Arsène Wenger said: “We are delighted that Alexander Hleb has agreed to join us. He is a player I have admired for some time now and I know he will provide our squad with great quality. Hleb has proved his ability with his performances in the Bundesliga in recent seasons and he definitely has the potential to do very well with Arsenal.”

Alexander Hleb said: “I am very happy to have this fantastic opportunity to join Arsenal. They are a Club with a great history and many world class players.”

Alexander Hleb will join up with the Arsenal first team squad when they return for pre-season training in early July.


:(

I'm sad that everyone's leaving. Now I'm wondering who will replace Hleb and Kuranyi. Now Frei shouldn't be a problem, but who will replace Hleb? I don't think that we will get someone like him again. In Stuttgart, they talk about Steffen Hofmann from Rapid Wien (Klinsi said that he'll give him a chance in the german NT)

Or they sign Figo :laugh but I doubt that...



I think I should drink some beer...:drinkbeer :drinkbeer :drinkbeer

[Gerry_BMG]

Frei shouldnt be a problem? Well, looks like Trappatoni is a problem for Frei.
This is ranging to a degree of comedy. Frei wont sign because Stuttgart has Trap as coach. I already see how the management of Stuttgart bites their own arses when Trap will turn out to be a fault... and because of him they werent able to sign Frei. LOL...
If Stuttgart wont make some tariffic transfers I woulndt be surprise if they will fight for relegation next season.

p.s. I dont want Stuttgart to do bad, but it could very well happen.

[Ben the Gooner]

Tim and others who see him regularly - I am trying to work out where he will fit into our team, I would say the obvious would be the right side of midfield where I definately think we need some work although watching Belarus v Scotland he played in a deep midfield playmaker role picking out passes. I can't see him in central midfield as Wenger prefers two quite defensive players usually, perhaps he sees him as a replacement/alternative for Bergkamp I saw a bit of that in him, any information would be appreciated as I haven't seen much of him, where was he most effective for Stuttgart?

[Gerry_BMG]

Tim and others who see him regularly - I am trying to work out where he will fit into our team, I would say the obvious would be the right side of midfield where I definately think we need some work although watching Belarus v Scotland he played in a deep midfield playmaker role picking out passes. I can't see him in central midfield as Wenger prefers two quite defensive players usually, perhaps he sees him as a replacement/alternative for Bergkamp I saw a bit of that in him, any information would be appreciated as I haven't seen much of him, where was he most effective for Stuttgart? With the class players Arsenal has I doubt Hleb will become starter. If hes in form and doing well hes terrific but if not he will loose many balls and wont think about doing much in defense. Wenger might prefer more consitent and more of team players in his team. But Hleb definitely has the potential to become a world class player.

[Timonator]

Trap said in the press conference that he wants Frei. Some stupid newspaper wrote something wrong again. The only problem is that Stade Rennes wants so much money for him. If he isn't coming this year than probably 2006 for free.

I'm sure they'll sign someone good, at least I hope it :laugh But you never know.

Anyway, I wish Hleb success at Arsenal. He said "goodbye" in a fair way, other than Kuranyi did.


Gerry, do you think Hleb was good in the last season? He scored not many goals, and some, I think 14 assisst, or something.

He was never there when we needed his skills and dribblings the most. Especially at the end of the season, where we played against Bochum, Gladbach and Bayern. We'll miss him, but him leaving, is not the end of the world.

He wanted to play for Arsenal...in such case you can't hold him here.

[Gerry_BMG]

Trap said in the press conference that he wants Frei. Some stupid newspaper wrote something wrong again. The only problem is that Stade Rennes wants so much money for him. If he isn't coming this year than probably 2006 for free.

I'm sure they'll sign someone good, at least I hope it :laugh But you never know.

Anyway, I wish Hleb success at Arsenal. He said "goodbye" in a fair way, other than Kuranyi did.


Gerry, do you think Hleb was good in the last season? He scored not many goals, and some, I think 14 assisst, or something.

He was never there when we needed his skills and dribblings the most. Especially at the end of the season, where we played against Bochum, Gladbach and Bayern. We'll miss him, but him leaving, is not the end of the world.

He wanted to play for Arsenal...in such case you can't hold him here. As I see it he was very good in the first half of the season, only to fail to perform good when the team needed it the most. And as I!!! see it I think Hleb becomes to arrogant. Comparing him some time ago and now he looks like someone who thinks very highly of him now (maybe I am wrong). So maybe its the best for Stuttgart to let him go IF they get a decent replacement for him. I would like if Stuttgart will get some good players because we need good teams next season to do good in UEFA-Cup and to challange Bayern for the title. But 10.5 m like it is said in the media is IMO not much for him. 15m would have been a decent price.

Timo, do you know what the special conditions were so that Stuttgart will let Hleb join Arsenal?

[Timonator]

As I see it he was very good in the first half of the season, only to fail to perform good when the team needed it the most. :USA_Blue
And as I!!! see it I think Hleb becomes to arrogant. Comparing him some time ago and now he looks like someone who thinks very highly of him now (maybe I am wrong). So maybe its the best for Stuttgart to let him go IF they get a decent replacement for him.:USA_Blue totally agree with what you said!

I would like if Stuttgart will get some good players because we need good teams next season to do good in UEFA-Cup and to challange Bayern for the title. But 10.5 m like it is said in the media is IMO not much for him. 15m would have been a decent price.

Timo, do you know what the special conditions were so that Stuttgart will let Hleb join Arsenal?It's definitely 15mio + premiums (if Arsenal win something, Stuttgart gets money. Don't know hom much, though)

Know what? Stuttgart is very rich at the moment :laugh 7mio (Kuranyi) + 15mio(Hleb)= 22mio :woot Please, do something good with it VfB :laugh

Free from debt, but no player...that's good :drinkbeer :laugh

[Schwalker]

Vfb might very well be the richest club in der zweite next year if they continue like this....;)

Seriously, Vfb need to spend some money soon...Or do the club have other plans?

[Timonator]

;) Rich is good, but we still need some player. At least 1 good striker and a midfield player.

They can buy a "big fish" with so much money, but the past showed me that VfB is just too Swabian for spending big money on big names :laugh

I hope Schuon, Gentner, Gomez and maybe Khedira get a chance this season.

For new signings, my only wish would be Alex Frei and Steffen Hofmann.

[ultimateHero]

WTF! Why does Arsenal sign a 32 year old guy? This guy is just a little bit better than this 23 year old Horscht Helt (spelling?).
Arsenal I laugh at you! :laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh

[Timonator]

Erm...

Hleb is 24 (I think) and Horst Heldt is 32 !!! :laugh

[ultimateHero]

Well I have to find a new favourite player from the current team now after Kuranyi my loverboy left us....

Who is going to be it? Send your requests by PM to me please.

[zib]

Anyone got video clips of Hleb?

[Al_the drummer]

Hleb is a player that has always impressed me, Arensal fans count yourselves lucky, he is a very energetic and direct player but only offensivly, defesivley he is not rated highly so it he'll prob be out on the wings but absoulte best in central offensive mid.

Lucky gooners, I'll enjoy watching um next season, also get yourselves a big center forward, Carsten Jancker is waiting by the phone.

[bastian]

also get yourselves a big center forward, Carsten Jancker is waiting by the phone.


Arsenal would be very lucky if they get him .... :USA_Blue :rolleyes: