Towards the end of last season, when I watched our team play, without Henry and van Persie, I had a strong belief that the coming season we will be ready to launch a SERIOUS charge towards the Premeriship title. The team passed the ball well, and their ability to create scoring chances despite without Henry really caught me by suprise. All we needed was a better FINISHING. I thought van Persie and Henry would be able to address that.
Now Titi has gone, I have read many names being mentioned, Torres, Eto’o, Anelka, Owen, Babel…. I know everyone has his own favourite, those are all good players. Nevertheless, before we think about the replacement, let’s first ask ourselves - what do we really want next season? To finish above mid table? To finish within top 4? Or to WIN the whole thing?
Personally, if I have to wait another decade to see us lifting the title again, I won’t have a problem with it. But there are two factors here I think our team need to gear up and launch a serious title charge next season:
(1) After the departure of Henry, there are many people (fans, press, ex-players) who made it sound like “The Gunners are finished”. Now you heard all those talks that Wenger will leave, Cesc will leave. Reading all these, it made my blood boiled. I want our team to PROVE THE WHOLE WORLD WRONG.
(2) Without a doubt, Wenger holds the key of Arsenal’s future success. Doesn’t matter if he’s bigger or smaller than the club, keeping Wenger is a MUST. We need that stability in the club which has been absent since the departure of David Dein. And IF we can win something next season, the boss would be foolish to leave behind an up-and-coming team he had endured so much pressure and criticism to build up, and let someone else to enjoy the fruit of all his hard work.
In short, we need to bring in someone who’s going to make an INSTANT IMPACT.
Torres, Eto’o the likes, we saw what the could do in La Liga. Yet no matter who’s going to join Arsenal from an oversea club, you always ask yourselves TWO questions: (1) Is he up to the physical nature of the Premiership? (2) Even if he is, HOW LONG will it take for him to settle in?
The simple FACT is - apart from Patrick Vieira, I can’t recall any one of our key additions at the past to make an INSTANT impact as soon as they stepped on the pitch of Highbury (now Emirates). It took Pires, Henry one season to take off. Bergkamp hit his peak in his second season as well. Petit and Overmars spent at least half a season to adjust to the Premiership.
Talking about Petit and Overmars, if anyone remember - we started the season poorly on 1998 season, when the pair first arrived. Until it took an amazing winning run in the second half of the season for us to beat United to the title. Problem is - will our current bunch of youngsters have that ability to recover a 10-point-deficit in the league after a poor start?
Many people on site already pointed out the significance of a good start the coming season. As the past 2 seasons, our title chance basically gone by X’mas. And if you look back last season, Man U took the lead from the beginning to the end. Even a mega-million side like Chelsea couldn’t catch them up with all their experience.
So when we think about a potential replacement upfront to replace Henry, I believe the priority consideration is how quickly the guy will fit in. Personally, I won’t mind an Anelka return. Yes, he may be someone who likes to sulk. Yet after all the Vieira, Cole, Henry departure of the past few seasons, I no longer care much of a player’s image. At the end of the day, no matter what they say, what their public image in front of the camera, it doesn’t really make much a difference of what they had actually DONE. Action speaks louder than words.
One thing about Anelka is - his game is destined for the Premiership, just like Vieira and Henry. The power, pace and strength. And as I remember, like Vieira, he’s probably another rare player who did actually make an instant impact when he first played for Arsenal.
I can’t help but thinking, that deep inside, following his departure from Arsenal, then watching the rise of Thierry Henry, deep inside, the thought that “it could have been me” must have crossed his mind. Not too many players could have a “second chance” in their career, if Wenger is going to buy him, he’s going to get a “second chance”. Unless he’s really a stupid fool, he would have to make sure he’s gonna grab the chance with both hands. This is a guy, afterall, everybody used to believe he’s destined for stardom after watching him play. He’s a “natural” striker, with an uncanny ability of striking the ball with no backlift. Those snap-shots. Technically he’s as good as anyone as a striker. And he’s a selfish player, you can be assured that he will not try to “pass the ball into the net”.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:27 am
Some players can fit in straight away, depends on their physical attributes and intelligence - Berbatov fitted in at Tottenham straight away, McCarthy at Blackburn, one has brains, one has brawn.
Pires had no brawn, Henry likewise - Tevez would fit in straight away, Anelka or Owen would because they’ve played here for years. Babel wouldn’t, Huntelaar wouldn’t, Torres certainly wouldn’t. Personally I would take Tevez above any player in the world bar Eto’o - both have the brains and the brawn, but Eto’o is a no-goer. Tevez can become an Arsenal legend.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Danny, are you Torres’s mum that you know he wouldn’t fit in straight away?
Why should we get a player who can fit in straight away anyway? We haven’t won the title for three years with Henry in the team, so we won’t win the title even if a great player comes in coz the youngsters need more time. So even if Torres don’t fit in straight away, we can wait for him to adapt to the English game and next year when the youngsters are more mature and Torres is settled we can attack on the title that’s for sure.
Here are some names that could be available this summer and would be a great additions to our squad:
1. Fernando Torres - he is a proven scorer in La Liga, scoring every year around 15 goals in an average side like Atletico Madrid. If they fail to qualify for Europe, and they are on their way to do that :), I think he would be available for transfer. His asking price might be too high, maybe 25 mil pounds, but maybe we can get him for around 15 mil. pounds + Reyes. All we have seen from Torres by now is just his potential, and if he can score 15 goals for as I said, an average side like Madrid, in a quality side like Arsenal he will score 20-25 for fun.
2. Carlos Tevez - a great striker with an eye for a goal and a pass. The last season was difficult for him, everything for him was new and he had to adapt to the English football, but near the end of the season we started to see the best of him. He literaly save the Hammers from relegation on his own. Wenger has said that he likes him a lot, especially his winning mentality and the ‘never give up’ attitude. He isn’t owned by West Ham, he has a contract with MSI, and their main man, Kia ‘I don’t know his last name’ is an Arsenal fan and that might help if Wenger shows interest in him. Also he said that he would jumo at the chance to play for the Gunners.
3. Samuel Eto’o - what can I say about him? His record says everything, he is a clinical finisher, and in this Arsenal team, with RvP next to him… nobody would be able to stop us. But I read that we are out of the running, coz the board have told Wenger that they don’t have the money to go for him. Maybe with the sales of Henry, Ali, Reyes, Flamini, Ljungberg etc. we can raise the cash, but will that be enough to get him? Let’s wait and see.
4. Darren Bent - he rejected a move to West Ham, coz he wants to play for a big club. Wenger has already said that he likes him, and he is a proven Premiership scorer, but his asking price(17 mil pounds) could damage our chances to get him. Anyway, I think he would be a great signing for us, coz he is good in the air, good with his feet, and those chances that we wasted last year, well he would put them in the back of the net constantly.
5. Ryan Babel - a versatile player who can play anywhere upfront, has a release clause set at 6 mil. pounds and is an Arsenal fan. Also he is a good friend with RvP, so he might be the real deal.
6. Klaas Jan Huntelaar - a striker with a great finishing ability, both with his feet and head. He will score goals whereever he plays and the whole Europe is looking at him.
7. Nicolas Anelka - what can I say about him, we all know him from the time he spent with the Gunners before he turned his back on the club and forced the board to be sold to Madrid. I don’t know if Wenger even consider him as a replacement for Thierry, but I must say he is a quality striker and can improve any side.
8. Miroslav Klose - a real ‘fox in the box’, his contract runs out next summer and he don’t want to sign a new one. He has already set his heart and wants to play for Bayern, but in todays world anything can happen(example-Ribery).
June 26th, 2007 at 7:28 am
There’s no point discussing all these players IMO. Wenger will buy someone who hasn’t been talked about at all. Sheed: You loved Baps as well..he had the physical credentials , he had a great attitude and was willing to learn but it didnt click for him. Sad…coz if he stayed he might well have done a lot in his second season but it just proves that just coz u do well in another league you will not do well here. You cannot compare apples and oranges and you can defintiely not gamble 27million on Fernando Torres if you are at Arsenal…you could at Chelsea maybe.
Hence you go for someone whom noone has seen but you know is good. All these big names will not come here. We”ll probably get some wonderkid from Brazil or argentina , finish 2nd or 3rd this season and challenge for the title next year. Maybe Carlos Vela is the guy…too immature?? 17 year old?? Maybe…but it will be none of the 6 above…that much is guranteed IMO. Its not Wenger style…
Lastly Wenger for the next 2 years..is very very important…else there’s a huge risk … I think he’ll stay though and hope he will.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:32 am
How about let’s make a wild guess who Wenger would actually buy?! I mean, not who we want him to buy, but who’s “most likely” to be joining us?
I will put my money on Anelka. ‘Cos he may be the cheaper! Also AW knows him well.
Sheed, reading ur analyis one by one, maybe Babel (friend of van Persie) and Tevez (AW likes him) stand a chance as well.
But I m pretty sure we won’t be buying in Bent (too expensive), Klose (a bit too old), and Eto’o (simply can’t afford).
June 26th, 2007 at 7:35 am
No matter who comes in, it will take that player some time to adjust to Arsenal’s game. Maybe slightly less so in the case of Anelka as he has played under Wenger before; but time is needed nonetheless. So what do I expect from Arsenal in the new season? Not much but to make it to the CL again for the following season. Not sure how the dressing room will react to Henry’s departure and all the going-on’s about Wenger’s future. Too many distractions off the pitch than needed. I see us going into our 3rd transition year - read trophyless year. ManUre strengthened their squad almost immediately after winning the CL. Not much movement in the Chel$ki camp so looks like they are retaining all their players which will make them even tougher to play against next season. Pool will definitely see more additions than Arsenal.
Will Henry’s departure inspire the youngsters to step up their games? We’ll find out in the new season. The first most critical thing now is not to bring in new players but for Wenger to committ his long term future to the club. It will remove the cloud of uncertainty that is hanging over the club currently.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:38 am
live_don’t_exist, I still love Baptista and I still think he wasn’t given enough time to show his qualities. The guy can finish you know, and there aren’t many of those these days.
As for Torres, I do believe he has what it takes to succeed in the Premiership. I don’t know why when some Spanish player is linked with a move to the Premiership, especially with Arsenal, you all think he will fail. Only Morientes didn’t live up to his expectations. Don’t say to me that Reyes didn’t make it, coz he was a decent player, our assist leader and if he got more games upfront, not on the wing he would have scored a lot more goals too. Luis Garcia was an integral part of the Liverpool team when they won the CL, Alonso too. Look at Cesc, he is already a great player. Even that guy Arbeloa seem to enjou his football in England. So I really don’t know why you think that the Spanish players aren’t suited for the Premiership.
June 26th, 2007 at 8:40 am
The perfect scenario would be to have both Reyes and Torres at Arsenal next season. I mean, we are a big club, we have money from TV rights and I read that the new contract between the FA and the TV companies is the biggest(financially) in the histoty of football, if not all sports. Now, we must have at least 20-30 mil pounds for new players, why not splash them all on one superstar(Torres) and keep Reyes and the team for the next season is complete. And Reyes would like to stay if we can sign Torres, they are a good buddies and would be great playing together.
But I would be happy if we could have only one of them too. They both are quality.
June 26th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Hey, do I sound with this Torres thing like Stag last summer with Yaya? :))))))))))
June 26th, 2007 at 9:13 am
yeah sheed, u are beginning to sound like stag and yaya!
sheed, give it up. i can honestly predict that wenger will NEVER buy torres. and am sure even u yourself know that by now. personally, i dont rate him….but at 25-30 million for him…you can be sure he wont be coming here.
its actually surprising how few quality strikers and wingers are out there!!!!!
so few infact that anelka is a favorite.
but as andez said, from now on i dont care about a players image any more …..anelka can be an incredible sulk/incredible pr.ck if he wishes. he probably isnt worse than gallas anyway.
he will suit our style immediately.
he has very, very good technique, he is strong and fast.
anelka infront of a supply line of rosicky, cesc and hleb will score 20+ very easily.
anelka, owen and tevez are the only strikers who can do a job for us NOW. any others that come in will take a few months to settle in.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Eto’o, Tevez and Anelka. Eto’s will cost much and will have to settle in the EPL. Tevez is settled and will cost much. Anelka is settled and will cost less. I would choose between Anelka and Tevez.
By the way, Henry’s exit and Wenger’s long term non-committal has not stopped a star player like Tevez admitting that he is excited about the prospect of joining Arsenal.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Also, if we sign Eto’o, we have to think of him going away for the ACN. For Tevez, it will the long journeys to South America for Copa and WC qualifiers (like Gilberto).
June 26th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Good point nipuna. The African Nation Cup factor.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Tevez does sound like a great addition, although Inter Milan may grab him up first. I wouldn’t mind seeing Anelka coming back and partnered up with someone like Cisse. That could be a lethal combination!
Getting our hopes up with Tevez could be a let down in the end. Babel would do well, but he is still young and what our squad needs now is goal-poachers and experience. Hopefully Gilberto can push our youngsters to a higher level of perfomance with Wenger’s tactics.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:09 am
What about that guy Stag keeps mentioning, Amauri? He is rated extremely highly by those in the know.
As for an impact wide guy who could breath new life into our wide attack, we could do alot worse than Ludovic Giuly. He shouldn’t exactly break the bank either.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:10 am
By the way, we ain’t getting Tevez, Torres or Etoo so there really is no point in mentioning them in regards to Henry’s replacement. Wenger will probably buy nobody. Less is more to Wenger. At least it seems that way in recent years.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:19 am
We aren’t mounting a serious charge for the title without a legitimate scoring threat… in my opinion, and probably some help at the back when the ACoN goes on.
And I am sure the board love folks that “don’t mind waiting 10 years” for our next trophy… but thats not cutting it for us any more with a 60,000 seat stadium to fill.
Tevez would be ideal… but he probably cost too much.
Mazza, if you’ve seen Amauri… you know he is physical and can definitely find the net… he hasn’t been linked, so he’s probably on Arsene’s list!!!
I can only hope.
Likely, we’ll be waiting until late JULY for answers.
Painfully.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Let’s be realistic. Had David Dein not left Arsenal, I would say that Wenger eventual departure is not all gloom and doom. But to have your most important board member, team captain, and manager (eventually) leave sounds a lot like a major re-org and its bound to de-stablize our squad, if they’re aren’t already.
We know that wenger must stay to finish what is his 3rd rebuilding of the team. The process won’t be complete until another couple years, so it would be a mess if he left at the end of next year, because whoever comes in will not have the same vision that of Wenger to complete the job. The new manager might do his own thing. If Wenger stays for another couple season and leaves Arsenal on a high (with the team rebuilding complete) then that would be ideal.
You said that if we win something next season, it will give Wenger incentive to stay. Well, then what is the incentive for our kids to play hard to win anything next season? All of them could easily just follow’s Henry’s route and join another big club that has more potential to win honours, rather than stay at Arsenal.
Our desire for the manager to stay and the players to step up is OUR WISH, not their incentive. The only incentive the players have is to win, but it doesn’t have to be with Arsenal. Very few of the players have openly committed to the Arsenal cause, and the one who committed the LOUDEST actually left for Barca this week!
Based on the current squad, without adding any Henry replacement (Wenger does not buy replacements, he develops them), I would say we can realistically finish 4th again, provided we have no Injuries and we do not stretch ourselves thin by loaning out our kids because come January we’ll have Ade, Toure, Eboue off to the ANC so we’ll need backup.
I would say we don’t need an Henry replacement. We have skills of RVP and the workrate of Ade. What we need is goal distribution, where Hleb and Rosicky has rto really step up and shoot more. We need our current players to be more direct, or replace them with more direct ones. That is acutally all we really need to get our team going. Last season, we had a million chances, but we just didn’t shoot (therfore our so called lack of finishing because we were too hesitent to shoot and get caught with the ball)
June 26th, 2007 at 10:30 am
“By the way, we ain’t getting Tevez, Torres or Etoo so there really is no point in mentioning them in regards to Henry’s replacement. Wenger will probably buy nobody. Less is more to Wenger. At least it seems that way in recent years”.
Were the names of Rosicky, Gallas, Baptista really a “nobody”?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:45 am
How much did we spend on these players Andez? £6m million. That was on one player as well, Rosicky. Wenger had no option to buy him as there was literally no one to play there long-term after Pires left. Baptista and Gallas were basically exchanges.
Up front, we have Adebayor, Van Persie, Bendtner, and Walcott. Analysing how Wenger has worked over the years in regards to numbers per position, he probably thinks these four are enough.
He also will not spend over £15 mill on anybody, so that rules out Etoo, Torres, and Tevez. Apart from those three he will probably thinks Bendtner is the equal of everyone else in Europe. Remember Andez, it wouldn’t be the first time Wenger has gone into a season guilty of total negligence in regards to squad depth. He has done it plenty of times before.
He may buy someone, but in my opinion the odds are 60-40 against that happening.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:02 am
We need 1 striker and a wide player ideally but we’ll probably get 1 of the two. If so I”d like a backup for Rosicky on the left…thats it. I know I know we need more but this is the bare minimum that we need.
As for Wenger spending….why does it bother you how he spends or how he gets people in? The point is “exchange,loan,buy = a player coming to Arsenal = balance addressed” .. so if AW think s a loan deal is fine then I’m with him…though he doesnt normally think this way. If we’d won something no one would be complaining about JUST “Gallas Baptista and Rosicky” coming in but would talk instead of “EXPERIENCE” and “BIG NAME” players wenger brought in and how the kids were never ready.
Anyway I agree with Stag though…it’ll be painful waiting .. still AW Knows…
June 26th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Klose is off the table now - he signed with Bayern. Personally, I would like to see Arsenal bring in Tevez, but I think he will cost too much and there are probably too many issues with his transfer to West Ham last year and Arsene won’t want to deal with them.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Tevez said today that he would like a move to Arsenal he likes playing in the EPL and he would not have to move out of London
But he also likes a move to Inter
I think Teves would be great next to RVP
I also like the idea of Torres another great player but he may have trouble adjusting like Reyes did
I have read that Liverpool are trying to get Torres but Atl Mad will only do it for cash and a swap for Crouch. So we might be able to meet there offer with a swap for Reyes.
Get rid of Adebayor he has a poor 1st touch and ball skills let him improve at another club…
June 26th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Why is nobody mentioning Djibril Cisse? His pace is top class, great touch, good finishing, he’s young too. Only concerns are the injuries, which I would describe as “freak”. I think he would fit in very well too. If we don’t go after Tevez (which would be my dream) Cisse should be the next target.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
“Wenger had no option to buy him as there was literally no one to play there long-term after Pires left.”
Mazza, there was Reyes.
Anyway, you are right that Wenger has not strengthened the side as much but he has always signed replacements. Gallas for Campbell, RvP+Reyes for Bergkamp, Rosicky for Pires. Only with Vieira, he screwed up and I can’t believe that he is going to do the same with Henry.
I am confident we will sign two. One each for Reyes and Henry. But I am not confident we will sign a defender, which we need due to the ACoN.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Cisse has not exactly set the premiership alight, I would go for Tevez, and Huntelaar or maybe Owen. Darren Bent is overpriced and overrated, let the Spuds buy him.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Yeah, but he and we as fans knew Reyes wanted to go. So there was no one to play on the left.
You never know, Wenger might actually learn from his mistakes and buy a clutch of quality players but the likelihood of that happening diminishes more and more as the years go on.
My guess is that he will be Mr. Stuborn, go with what he’s got, and when it doesn’t work out he will leave and admit defeat. Which is why I said he might as well leave now. However, with Henry gone, we need some stabiltity so I am mentally prepared for another season of flattering to deceive. At least we will see some good football.
June 26th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
mazza, yeah, i really really really hope that wenger does not think walcott is a ready-made replacement for wenger. cos am beginning to feel he might be planning for a bench of bendtner and walcott!
ps: Cisse is utter bullocks!!! he has pace and that is all. he didnt set liverpool alight and he didnt even set marseille alight either. we certainly shouldnt be taking liverpools rejects!
June 26th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Cisse: bollocks? that’s nonsense. The dude has sustained 2 compound leg fractures in the past 3 years. You think that might have something to do with his form over the past year and a half? I don’t care if ya’ll disagree with me or not, but (mark my words) if he stays healthy he’s a 15-20 goal scorer in the EPL. I was just hoping that it might be for Arsenal instead of Bolton or whoever is going after him.
June 26th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Speaking of money, Arsene should have atleast 40M.
Henry - 16M
Reyes - 8-10M
Aliadiere - 2M
Muamba - 2M
Flamini + Gilbert - 1-2M
Funds - 10-15M
40M should be enough to buy one good striker and one good winger. He also has more than a month (technically two) to get the players in. Let’s hope he makes good use of the time and money.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
IN A PERFECT WORLD (which doesn’t exist in football, imo) we would sign a clinical striker, a speedy winger — Walcott’s not ready, imo — who can get wide and then explode forward with speed (an oft overlooked problem last year, as it seemed to me only Henry took advantage of this occasionally), another quality person for the defense, and David Dein back in the boardroom.
What will we get? Part of me thinks AW will sign a young but promising striker, an somewhat unknown winger, no one for the defense, and it’s 50/50 that DD comes back with a billionaire owner in tow.
I agree with those of you who say RVP is a great second striker…I loved his killer instinct but he’s not a guy who can just take over a match all on his own from what I’ve seen. EA is a talent but I think his finishing needs time to develop consistency. We need a 15-20 goals striker to join with our Young Guns…I think we are looking a 40-50 goals per season tandem up front, and I think Cesc, Walcott, and Rosicky are going to step up in regards to goals. They all showed amazing potential at various points last season.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Sheed: “Danny, are you Torres’s mum that you know he wouldn’t fit in straight away?”
No, but I watch a lot of Spanish football and he’s a very weedy player. The physicality of the Premiership would be a definite struggle for him in my opinion.
I’m not saying we should or should not buy players who will adapt straight away, I was just responding to Andez claim that Arsenal needs players who can make an immediate impact.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
This is my last time(at least this summer) that I talk about Torres and I will tell you that he will come to play in England whether that’s with Arsenal, Manchester, Liverpool or Chelsea and he will prove you all wrong. I believe he will be a big success and we will regret for the missed oppurtunity.
As for Cisse, he was my second favourite player at the time he was at Auxerre. At that time was thinking that he might become as good as Thierry Henry and I wanted Arsene to sign him badly(imagine Cisse and Henry together in top form). But, he signed for the boring Liverpool, then he had two very bad injuries and his career went backwards. As much as I wanted Wenger to sign him at that time, I don’t think we should risk with him, not because he is out of form, but because we don’t know how his legs will react in the EPL. Although I must say he is a very good striker, better than Adebayor, that’s for sure.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Let’s revive our interest in Goran Pandev. He would be a great addition to the squad, and with one move Wenger can fill two positions coz he can play as a striker and as a left winger.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Have you seen Wenger’s shopping list? Looks like there are two transfer targets left and the two of them are strikers. Here is a link to the list.
http://arsenalshorts.co.uk/june07/20070626_01.html
June 26th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
And here is a list from the less known players(strikers) we have been linked to in the past, Steven Naismith from Kilimarnock, Stefan Kiessling from Leverkuzen, Jimmy Briand from Rennes and Chinedu ‘Edu’ Ogbuke from Lyn. Maybe Wenger will decide to bring someone of these guys.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
If we bring any one it should be a defender. Now with TH gone we need to concede less goals to be competitive……I would love to see Ledley King come to us, but the more likely scenario seems to be Bakari Sagna from Auxerre……
As far as forwards, this is the way I see it:
1. Torres: An EPL virgin who is very expensive……….So he is a risky buy. AW won’t take that risk……….Not coming.
2. Nic Anelka: A smoke screen which makes for good tabloid stories and us to masturbate over……….Not coming.
3. Owen: Too risky of a buy with inuries and relatively expensive as far as AW is concerned……………Not coming.
4. Eto’o: Rumors abound around this………if it were going to happen, it would have happened last weekend in a swap deal; he is also too expensive for AW……..Not coming.
5. Klose: Just signed long term with Werder……….Not coming.
6. Tevez: Very interesting prospect; young, athletic, fast, accurate, lives in London, EPL experience…….a possible.
7. Obefemi Martins: Strong, Fast, young, EPL experience (17 goals in 44 games for NUFC), good position sense, reasonable buy out clause…………a good prospect; might happen.
8. Babel: Young, Fast, Still needs some work…….possible but unlikely.
9. Huntelaar: More of a Goal poacher than winger…….a possible but unlikely.
10. The most likely signing is one that we haven’t heard of………he is 20-21 years old in the reserves of some team.
Oh yeah, did you see Yaya Toure also signed with Barca!!!!!!!
June 26th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Henry leaving wasn’t going to happen, and it did.
Next up on the media blitz is Cesc, I expect to see him on the front pages now for the rest of the Summer linked with Barca and Madrid.
Wenger will get more and more “he’s going” the longer he doesn’t extend the contract…
Not sure why Arsenal are the target of this stuff Summer after Summer, but it has something to do with being a team thats sold their star(s) before. If you did it previously, then nobody is off limits.
June 26th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I have rubbished Tevez before. Before his last six games for West Ham! maybe I was too hasty. For another day.
Hard to know who we should bring in. I get the feeling that Wenger wants to change the way the team plays - no longer dependent on one player to score the goals, make the assists etc. Henry, injury-prone, could not be the lynch-pin of the team.
If we are going to play differently, say with one up front, that changes what we need. If we play 4-5-1 masquerading as 4-3-3 sometimes, we don’t need too many up-top strikers. Adebayor with Bendtner as back-up would be enough as Walcott and Van Persie could also play there if required. With a central midfield of Diaby, Gilberto and Fabregas, that leaves Rosicky, Hleb, Walcott, Van Persie and Ljungberg in the wide attacking positions of a 4-3-3. If we are playing someone like Eboue wide in a 4-5-1, maybe we do need an extra right-sided defender like Sagna. If we flit between 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 we will probably need more than Denilson and Song as back-up to the three mentioned above.
Of course, 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 are not the only options. A more conventional 4-4-2 could be on the cards. The point is, until we know Wenger’s ideas for the team in 07/08, we don’t know what type of player he needs.
Forgetting all of the above, Anelka is the best available straight replacement for Henry. A lot of caveats in that statement before he gets here!
June 26th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Stag, Cesc won’t be linked with Barca this summer, they’ve just signed Yaya Toure and are full with players in midfield.
Also Arsenal is not the only team linked with a transfers for their players. Look at Barca for example, they have Eto’o, Ronaldinho, Giuly, Gudjohnsen, Saviola, Deco, Xavi, Edmilson, Motta, Belletti, Sylvinho, Marquez who were linked with a move. That’s 12 players Stag.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Sheed, Vieira and Henry were the MAIN attraction for how many years running now? 4?
And Cesc won’t be linked? I’ve already seen it for him and Wenger about 5 times each…
Here U go… http://soccervoice.com/n070672.htm
Now its likely rubbish, but it WILL intensify. There is blood in the water and if we’ll sell our captain (twice), then everyone is available. Thats the thought process going forward.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Now when I wrote the post above realized that Saviola is available on free. We were linked with him the last summer and now when he is a ‘free agent’ Wenger might decide to go for him. He is a very good player, a very good finisher and would be a cheaper option than the players mentioned. Just a thought.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Yeah right, they wanted to write something about Reyes, but their story was too short so they’ve decided to include Cesc in there. Stag, Real Madrid director is doing all he can to buy Kaka, he is the man for them, not Cesc. Even if they want to sign Cesc, he would never go there, he is a Catalan kid and is loyal to Barca.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I agree with Mazza. I do not think AW will splash a lot of money for a star striker. I think we should get used to Adebayor & van Persie as our pair of strikers. After all they did not do too bad last season when Henry was not playing in the late November/December. By the time RvP11 got injured he had 11 goals and only C. Ronaldo scored more than him at that point. But if AW decided to spend funds on a striker, my choice would be Tevez. He already spent a season in EPL and seems to have adapted pretty well to the specifics of the game
June 26th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I don’t think Adebayor will miss any games for the African Cup of Nations. I think odds are that he gets suspended or kicked off the Togo team.
June 26th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Mazza, I don’t know anything behind the scene. From what I have read though, it appears one of the reason AW has not committed to his Arsenal future is the LACK OF TRANSFER FUND he feels which allow him to compete with Chelsea, Man U in the transfer market.
We did not spend big the last few seasons. But remember those years we didn’t really get much to spend anyway. Anyone who cost more than 20 mil already out of our budget.
He could have spent a 18 mil on someone like Carrick, but then he could also spend 18 mil on a few youngsters. In the end he bought us Adebayor, Diaby. Which not exactly household names, yet in my opinion it’s much wiser a way to spend than throwing away 20 mil transfer budget each year in the “NAMES”.
Like I said before - NO manager with a right mind in world would not want to strength their squad in order to challenge for the title. Yet sometimes when we start pointing fingers on someone, we ought to think of the CIRCUMSTANCE a manager who’s working under.
The board got a limited fund provide to the gaffer, he’s already in a disavantage situation compare to his rivals… and yet we are still laying the blame on him?
IF he had 50 mil available, then u give him Adebayor or Eto’o for him to choose, do u really believe he would still go for Ade?
The fact that he had spent so little money and achieved so much over the years is something we should appreicate. Not the other way around.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
This has been a fun post to read! Alotta names mentioned. I saw Athletico play several times last year and was very UNimpressed with Torrres. Bent is way overrated imo and eto’o is not coming, he wants to play with Titi. I don’t beleive Anelka will be back either. My choice to replace Henry would be Tevez. I really beleive he will be Argentinas next legend. Yes better than even that little cheater Messi. Can we afford him. Who knows? I also believe that we need a defender of some sort for depth.
Also has anyone actually seen the likes of bentner or Vela play? If so where do you go to find Youth team games to watch?
What i am pretty sure will happen is AW will sign someone we all have heard of but is not a real big name, plus 3-4 kids 18-22 to round out the first/reserve team. HE has sold quite a few players recently, depth could really be an issue with the Copa and ACoN this year.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
On Arsenal.com I think u can find some reserve game highlight to watch, aqh. but have to pay for a subscription free i think.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
btw Vela is one hell of a player in the FM game, hopefully he would be that good in real life! ; )
June 27th, 2007 at 12:12 am
Andez - good point on the “contraints” that Wenger is currently working under.
To begin with, Wenger isn’t a star buyer, he is a star searcher
Then add the stadium debt which makes him even more determined to do the most with the least.
Now, United is actually in a worst position financially in terms of its Debt/Equity ratio, but they’re also taking a very high risk. Given their financing model, any disruption in income due to poor performance on the pitch will make them likely to default on the $60m annual interest debt payments (you know the Glazers ain’t going to use their own equity to rescue United if it needs be).
Back to Arsenal, the price of being financially prudent is that we cannot afford to buy big even if Wenger wanted to, because its a high risk short term gain with little evidence of a long term reward. If you think about it, Arsenal is acutally a big club operating its finances like a lower league cup.
The question is whether this business/operating model will still work in the new age of billionaire takeovers and mega-rich TV sponsorship details. It will take the club another couple years to reap the revenue from the Highbury Square sales to help reduce the debt. Until then, it will be Arsene’s ways or the highway. And should Wenger leave, the incoming manager will be under the same restraints as well, and if he doesn’t play along, we might do a Leeds….(albeit at a small scale)
June 27th, 2007 at 12:34 am
With Henry and Aliadiare gone we are doomed in the striking department. Reyes is soon to be dealt. Vela will probably spend most of the coming season playing in the Carling cup so that leaves Van Persie (who’s as fragile as glass.. he can hardly play a full season) , Adebayor (poor touch), then there’s Bendtner and Walcott who are still unproven. The worst thing is, what will happen when Adebayor goes to play for Togo ?
Our only consolation happens to be relying on the fact that Arsene knows.
But striking isn’t our only problem. Gilberto is going to miss a few games so who will fill in ?
Toure and Eboue will also be going to represent their nations. Can we rely on Hoyte and Djourou to fill in the blanks. Gallas is so injury prone and I can hardly see him going a whole season unscathed.
The squad is really thin. We might have enough players to compete in all those competitions. Imo we need to buy more players and forget looking for so many star players.
Toure
June 27th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Yup neova, that’s why i think a take-over is INEVITABLE, whether the board likes it or not. It’s just a matter of time.
I read that Sven Erickson is joining Man City, only provided that he has money to spend. This is just a classic example of high-profile managers today. They wont wanna go somewhere with small transfer fund and ruin their own CV.
United do have an advantage than us, even Glazers made a mess out of it - their MASSIVE FAN BASE, in UK or around the world. I believe they are the MOST SUPPORTED club in the world.
we r nowhere close compare to them, we are relatively a “NEW BRAND” compare to United and Liverpool. Folks at Chelsea kept saying Liverpool are NOT a BIG club. Not sure who they wanna fool.
I always like to compare Arsenal to Valencia in La Liga. An up and coming competitive side, yet not having the same finanical muscle as the big boys. Both clubs share something in common - their purchases usually are very sensible. Rarely did we see Valencia go over the top and spent big buck on someone neither.
June 27th, 2007 at 1:24 am
first offer newcastle 13 for martins and then 9 for owen
offer them bendtner on a six month loan
so we will have backup during ANC
my choice for a winger is ricardo quaresma,but even reyes will do
coz reyes has the talent and a contract with arsenal
June 27th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Andez,
You’re right, United are the most supported club in the world — perhaps in all of sport. NO ONE is close to comparing with them in the world — unless you go outside football and look at the NY Yankees. Chelsea certainly doesn’t.
But don’t discount Arsenal’s large following. Notice the website is also available in Chinese and Thai. I’ve seen kids in several European countries running around in Arsenal shirts going back about 12 years now (and that’s just when I really started traveling abroad), and wherever I look in Chicago, I see more and more Arsenal shirts popping up.
The club have historically not been big spenders, and still have the longest running spell in the top division of English football. The Chelsea c*nts who said that about LFC are ignorant and in fact haven’t come to terms with the fact that THEY themselves are not a big club — just a very rich one that has only recently become popular outside of the Premiership.
Not sure about your Valencia comparison because I don’t pay much attention to La Liga Primera… but I am aware of who they are. Brand identity-wise, I’d say Arsenal are a lot better known though — at least in the English speaking world and the post-Imperial nations of the British Empire as well.
Arsenal do have financial muscle. They are just fiscally prudent — and of course the recent debt from building the Emirates doesn’t help.
Nike and one of the biggest airlines in the world pump tons of money into the club… and Nike markets the team in the US, the same way they market United and Barca. That’s an upside for the club.
Let Sven Goran-Erikkson go wherever he wants. He had all the talent in England and couldn’t do sweet fa as the Three Lions’ manager.
I’ll take Arsene Wenger and a local lemonade stand as sponsors over anything Man City does.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I think my whole point is we are lucky to have Wenger. As he’s a RARE kind of manager who doesn’t need to spend big to gain success.
Sven is one example I wanted to use it to show that the common managers’ mentality - they would love to have $$$ to buy buy buy. U could add Mourinho, Capello, Lippi, Ferguson, Rijkaard, Tigana, Keegan, O’Leary, Daglish, Vialli… and many many more all in the same list.
June 27th, 2007 at 10:42 am
the periphery supporters in random countries follow WINNERS… its just the way it is for the most part.
I have travelled to Zimbabwe… and seen many Arsenal shirts… they were the most popular there, but this was when we were Champions.
I did see MANY Thierry Henry T-shirts … with his face on them. He is a hero there… “The Man”…
But I would imagine, when you don’t get the type of coverage that we get… you will basically get Chelsea/United/Liverpool… or the teams at the top.
Henry is a marketing machine by himself… he is great for football.
Seeing our marketing department SUX… and we don’t travel outside of Austria, we don’t make the money the other big 3 do in marketing.
HILL WOOD sounds like he hasn’t got a damned clue about whats going on with the Arsenal… he’s not sure Wenger will sign, but he has no reason to believe he won’t. Very re-assuring.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:35 am
Stags, Chelsea is only a member of your so-called ‘big three’ in England, and on bandwagon circuits. Before they started winning a couple years ago, they weren’t anywhere near where they are now.
In the US, Arsenal and United are far more popular. Why? Because Nike pimps them over here. Come to Chicago, or go to NYC. I can count the number of Chelsea shirts I’ve seen in either of those places on one hand — but I’ve seen an exponential increase of Arsenal shirts here in the past 3 years.
I couldn’t care less about Zimbabwe. It’s the US, Indian and Chinese markets that matter in the world of big money support — and Arsenal is popular in both those countries.
And BTW, in case you don’t follow anything that goes on with Arsenal football besides what happens with Henry, Hill-Wood only has a limited role in the daily operations — and although he’s a third generation chairman, he doesn’t have a crystal ball. What do you EXPECT him to say about Wenger’s future? With regards to what he knows about whats going on, I’m pretty sure he knows more about the club than any of us do.
Maybe, since you seem to know it all, you should send them your resume?
June 27th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Being from India, I can tell you that ManU is the #1 club. Arsenal is #2. In the past few years, I have seen a rise in Chelsea supporters and it is clearly to do with their success. Surprisingly found very few Liverpool supporters, atleast around where I am.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Here… click on this link:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2006-02-15-richest-clubs_x.htm
It’s an article from last year, and it shows Real brings in more revenue than anyone else, and it ranks Chelsea ahead of Arsenal, but what’s most reavealing is the final sentence paragraph:
“Only 13 clubs have appeared in all nine editions of the report: Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter, Juventus, Lazio, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United, AC Milan, AS Roma, Newcastle and Tottenham.”
Not only does it show Arsenal as being one of the only clubs to appear in all nine reports, but it also shows that Tottenham have too. TOTTENHAM are more lucrative than Chelsea over the long haul! And when was the last time they won anything of note?
It must be that Zimbabwe fanbase that keeps them in there.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
nipuna… I am not surprised about the lack of LFC support.
They have a long and illustrious history as a club, but they are a little like the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball… lots of tradition, but not a very endearing group of fans, and unlike the NY Yankees, do not have as much appeal outside the USA.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Typical Rye… you discount all of Africa… well done.
No need to comment mate, you’ve explained yourself quite well.
And you obviously know NOTHING about Red Sox fans… the best fans in baseball… who akin to English Football supporters… travel all over the country with their team… making more noise than the home supporters…
and in the Carribean and Latin America, they have quite a bit of appeal, as their best players are Dominican.
Clearly, you know best.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Red Sox fans are the best fans in baseball…to Red Sox fans. Like Yankee supporters, the rest of the country finds them insufferable. It’s all POV.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Seattle, not talking about whether you like them or not… the fact is … they travel in large numbers, supporting their team vocally… much like English Football. What other baseball team has that type of support?
Yankees fans don’t travel…
June 27th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Typical Stags… your reading comprehension is at a third grade level.
1. I never said anything about ‘all of Africa’. And when it comes to money markets — meaning markets where there is lots of money available to spend on leisure — Zimbabwe doesn’t even show up on the radar. 80+% unemployment and about the same percentage of people living below poverty is not where I’m looking to make money as a football club’s marketing department.
That WAS the subject you were originally trying to address, right? Sorry mate, you want to make a case for UNICEF, that’s fine. I’m staying on topic and considering economically viable markets where Arsenal can generate large chunks of money.
2. I know plenty about Red Sox fans. I lived in Kenmore for a year while I was at BU. Then the money ran out so I came back to Chicago. Besides having to live amongst them, I also grew up watching them play at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, where I grew up. I remember when (then pitcher) ‘Oil Can’ Boyd thought that Lake Erie (which was adjacent to the the old stadium) was the ocean. But even back then, when the Indians were terrible, you didn’t here Sox fans make more noise than the Tribe faithful. Red Sox fans are perhaps the most annoying in sports — even more annoying than Yankees fans, because at least the Yankees have something to brag about. And anyway, there are a whole bunch of North Siders here in Chicago who will argue that the Cubs have the best fan support in baseball. They had plenty of support (as do the Indians and Yankees) in the DR/greater Carribean community.
But, like Seattlegunner said, it’s all POV, and anyways this isn’t a baseball site…
June 27th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I think the support base in India has all to do with being Champions and on top the league. EPL started showing in India from the 98-99 season. ManU were the undisputed leaders then (although Arsenal had just won the league in 98). No wonder ManU is #1. Arsenal is #2 because they were the only other team to break the ManU monopoly. Of late, Chelsea has broken into that group and I can see their support increasing. Any surprise that Liverpool is nowhere to be seen? When you are sitting thousands of miles away and dependent only on TV, it is but natural to support the top teams as only their games are shown live.
When I started watching the EPL in 98-99 season, everyone was supporting ManU. The only reason I chose Arsenal was because of Dennis Bergkamp. I am glad I made that choice.
June 27th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
No, you said you only care about US, China and India… I didn’t see you mention Africa, and for that matter, the rest of Asia.
June 27th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I still say… as Titi’s replacement, we could do a lot worse than
AMAURI.
He’s strong, brazilian, and plenty of skills… I am sure he wouldn’t cost 20 million either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4m4TxIKiVI&mode=related&search=
June 27th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Yes Stag, Amauri is good, but Anelka is far better than him. Even Goran Pandev is better than your man :)))))))))))))))))
And Inter signed Suazo, that might mean that they are out of the race to sign Tevez. Or because they are full with strikers we may go for one of theirs, like Ardiano perhaps?
June 27th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Anelka?
I’ll pass.
Tevez?
Please and thank you.
We’re on a budget though, so thats why you have to go for the unexpected like Amauri or someone else not linked to us!
June 27th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I’d rather spend the money on a midfielder or strengthening the defense. Arsenal have RVP and at least one of the other strikers will step up. If there is a problem, then it won’t be fixed with one big signing.
Arsenal will not replace Henry with anyone of his star-power, at least not this year, and anyways it wasn’t the front that was lacking last season. I’d spend the money elsewhere for now — bring in defense and a midfielder, and try to shore up AW to an extension.
Then watch how the youngsters play up front and decide after a few months where the squad stands. All the the while examining how to bring a guy like Babel in either in the January transfer window or for the 2008-09 season.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
stag, u have been bigging up anelka for a long while now……
and the suddenly “you will pass” on him????
strange.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
If the club is pursuing a striker, I’d rather see them take Djibril Cisse… he’s available and with the Torres swoop looming, LFC will looking to move him soon.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Anyone think Defoe is worth a look? How about Nugent and Lita?
June 27th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Nugent’s price tag will be ridiculous, and we already have enough young boots on the front. Don’t get me wrong, I like him, but see my above post.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Fred, I think what Stag means - and I’m assuming here - is that Anelka might be the one of the better options available and certainly would fit into the system, but he comes with alot of baggage too and he would rather see Arsenal bring in someone else. Like Tevez.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Ryecatcher, I disagree with you. I believe one big signing will make a difference. I also believe Wenger will make that one big signing and it will be a striker who can come in and make a difference. I also believe Anelka is the best suited to make an immediate impact.
Bottom line, Arsenal need another striker. Walcott is not ready to step up to the big time. In fact, it’s almost unbelievable Wenger paid that much money for him as I don’t see what’s so big about him. Henry, Kanu, van Persie; these were guys you could tell they were special at a young age. Walcott; I can’t see it.
The only way Wenger won’t sign a striker is if he considers Ljunberg a striking option but that would be foolish so I’m expecting a signing. Vieira is the only starter that’s left that Wenger didn’t bring someone in to replace them.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I think Torres & Eto are out of the question. Just not going to happen. Tevez would really be good but he would be expensive and if they are interested, he would probably sign for Inter over us. Anelka is a strong possibility but I am just not sure he is the answer. I dont see Wenger signing anyone on our “wish” lists though but who knows what Wenger will do. Not even sure if he will be at the club beyond. ….what I wouldnt do to know what his plans are. I would sleep a lot better tonight…..anyone have Wenger telephone number?
June 27th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
@ seattlegooner: nah, stag has been advocating anelka since last summer!
June 27th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Djibril Cisse is nonsense. Really! I have never rated him. And even if i was wrong, how come liverpool are so hasty to be rid of him. He has pace and not much else. He is just like Walcott only 7 years older!
Defoe? Nugent? Lita? Are you guys real??? Hell NO!!! We are not that desperate! I can bet that Bendtner would do better than these 3. lol.
There are only 2 available English strikers who have to quality to start for Arsenal. Bent or Owen. The others are nonsense.
June 27th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Josh, I likewise disagree with you. On 2 fronts:
1. So far as one big impact player: The formula is this (x=Henry, y=another big name, z=where the team was last year, a=where the team wanted to be next season)
At the end of the season, the club was looking at x+y=a. Now, ‘x’ is gone, so the equation is ?+y =?. They’re back at ‘z’ without the ‘x’ to add to the ‘y’.
Besides, Arsenal had Henry last year, and even when he wasn’t there it didn’t look that much different. Where’re the playmakers? Where’s the late game defense? Strikers with speed (see Walcott, Henry) need to be set up. Cesc stepped up… but who else? Ljunberg and Gilberto aren’t getting any younger, and Diaby may develop into the guy that Wenger wants him to, but right now, it’s the MF and DF that is lacking most.
2. On Walcott: First off, I never said Walcott. I was thinking more along the lines of Bendtner or Ade. But as long as Walcott has bow been brought up, are you seriously dismissing him after his debut season? A season where he made 15 appearances (including substitutions) at League level, was used sparingly (and out of necessity) and was injured for a large chunk besides? AW paid somewhere between 5-12 million quid for him. It wasn’t outlandish, just a lot for a 16 year old. You cannot determine whether or not it was worth it until he’s played 2-3 seasons. At any rate, Nugent will be commanding a lot more… which takes us back to square 1. We need to spread the money out and fix the problems at DF and MF… so I guess I disagree with you on 3 fronts.
I’m amazed at how quickly a few of you are to dismiss young players who haven’t had an opportunity to develop. I think my 16 month old son has more patience than that!
June 27th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Any idea on where Wenger is? Haven’t seen anything from him except a small statement during Henry’s departure. Hoping he is tucked in some small island plotting Arsenal’s (and his own) future.
June 27th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Hey all. Cut the crap with signing big names cause we wont. We will have one or two signings but they wont be big. Wenger will leave next year. Dont be suprise if we do well next season cause Wenger will want to end with a high note.
June 27th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Yes, I wanted Anelka… playing next to Henry.
That was Arsene Wenger’s dream pairing.
If we had Henry, the amount of intimidation he causes, the fact that teams had to account for him at all times, would have opened space for Anelka.
If we bring in Anelka now, he won’t be as effective as if he played with Henry. I see him as a good #2 striker, very good. He’s not a number 1 striker. Neither is VanPersie or Adebayor. Not yet anyway. Hopefully they’ll step up and grow into that role, but I don’t see it.
I’d pass on Anelka now and use that money on Tevez, or Martins, or Amauri.
Again, we’ll likely be waiting painfully to see what plays out…
June 27th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Stag, you are kidding me right? Anelka is not a good #1 striker and Amauri and Martins are?
Anelka is a better than both of them together man.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Sheed, Anelka didn’t exactly light up the EPL last year for Bolton.
Did you watch much of Newcastle? Martins was very impressive… He could definitely blossom into a star striker, in my opinion. I believe he had like 17 goals for Newcastle…
I watched a lot of Serie A this year… and I was very impressed by Amauri. Prior to him getting injured… Palermo were right near the top of the league. He was a big reason for it…
I saw Anelka play, and he did better against Arsenal, than against the rest of the league… we sort of jump started his season.
You like who you like… I like who I like… its opinion in the silly season.
No, I don’t think Anelka is a #1 striker. He’d have been excellent next to TH14 at Arsenal. Thats what I think.
Tevez is better than all of the above.
Just don’t think we have the balls or will take the chance on splashing out the necessary money to sign him. But I think he’d be worth it.
Anelka is better than Martins and Amauri together?
At what, because its not football. Perhaps at sulking?
I figured he could sulk, and Henry could glare… when they weren’t getting service from our midfield… that would have been hilarious!
June 27th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
nipuna, I think AW has just back from a trip (Madrid) to negotiate the Henry deal (selling). If fact, I think it will be the busiest summer for Wenger this year. We has yet to appoint a Director of Football, now AW is doing two person’s job. At the past, i think it’s AW name the transfer target, then Dein handled the majority part of negotiation. at least that’s my impression.
Btw, the club popularity thing, I think it has a lot to do with HISTORY. Man U is the most supported ‘cos they had a long and colourful history full of STARS. Charlton, Law, Best, to Robson, Hughes, to Giggs, Beckham, Cantona, van Nistelrooy…
I think the majority fans around the world (outside UK) who support Liverpool are in the age group of 30+, as they had withnessed their glory years.
Arsenal may have more fans in the age group of under 30, as the Gunnres’ popularity (globe wise) never really took off since Wenger in charge.
Surely in my days, when i first supported Arsenal, I couldn’t recall too many Arsenal fans around the ppl i known. There were more Man U, Liverpool and Everton fans. George Graham’s football was never a crowd pleasers anyway.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Yeah Nipuna..I agree ManU are the most supported club in India .. the TV always shows them all the time. Most however are bandwagon fans who support star players. Chelsea are picking up..On TV its always ManU,Chelsea even Liverpool at times above Arsenal. For the CL games also its teh same way.
June 28th, 2007 at 1:29 am
From the link Stag attached, this guy Amauri does look like a very good prospect, though i must confess I never heard of him before.
I am quite impressed with the way he leaps, he can jump so high, and a very tall player as well (how tall he is? six foot 3? 4?) .
His finish looks pretty cool as well.
can’t judge how good he really is, ‘cos the video clip stag attached is the only thing i saw, but my first impression on this player is pretty good.
June 28th, 2007 at 4:51 am
Amauri is 27 and he is 6ft 0 in . Martins is 22 and he is 5 ft 7 in. My pick would be Martins. I know Arsenal have a heading problem but we have Adebayor for that. Amauri is too similar to Ade. I’d very much prefer Martins.
Martins has a better record than Amauri and he has shown that he can cope with the physical game of the epl. I have nothing against Amauri but I’d prefer we got someone who’s proven in the league. Amauri might do well but i have my doubts. He’s brazilian and from what i’ve noticed.. South American’s don’t do that well.
Whoever we get, i hope he can deliver.
June 28th, 2007 at 5:43 am
stag, i still find it very, very weird that u are all “anelka-aint-that-good” all of sudden. hilarious really given your record of bigging him up in the last one year.
anyways, since we are in the habit of bringing up random strikers names on this website….why dont i throw out a new name….
Alves Afonso of Henreeven.
June 28th, 2007 at 5:44 am
ps: we WONT buy martins. at least not this summer.
that would leave us without him and adebayor for upto 6 weeks in january/february.
June 28th, 2007 at 7:57 am
I’d take Owen over Martins any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Typical Wenger for going for the Martins though. He’s African, Owen’s English. Simple. One is a certified finisher, the other a hit and miss ball of inconsistency. Him and Adebayor will be great combination. Not.
Actually, they would probably have days where they could take teams apart, but more often they would leave you wanting to shoot them with frustration.
June 28th, 2007 at 8:34 am
Martins might not play for Nigeria anymore due to his latest brush with the death squad in Lagos lol.
June 28th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Nonsense Mazza. Still the old “Passport” talk. Who u explain Walcott then?
When Wenger was still a French club Monaco’s manager, those days they were still restricted to 3 foreign players each team, Wenger used 2 of them to buy two Englishmen Glenn Hoddle and Mark Hateley. I bet he must have forgotton to check their “passport” back then.
I do agree with u though Owen is better than Martins. Owen is a proven top class striker. But if AW skips him I am sure it would be for other reasons (e.g. injury record) rather than his passport.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:04 am
While I am happy the club has free access to get guys like Ade, Toure, RVP, and Diaby, I’d actually like to see the club move towards bringing in more English players. 2 reasons:
1) The players who come up in England don’t need as much of an adjustment to the style of play or the climate. The rain doesn’t just make it less attractive to move from the Mediterranean, Africa or Brazil, it changes the style of play.
2) Yes, there are exceptions, but English players are less likely to flee for the more attractive climates/lucrative deals offered by the Italian and Spanish leagues when they tire of the climate and the rough & tumble nature of the EPL.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Unfortunately English players do not have the technical ability to play a European style of football - especially Wengerball - yet despite that they still cost twice as much as foreign imports.
I didn’t hear anyone moaning about English players when Bergkamp, Pires, Vieira etc. were ruling the roost, so why do you think we need them now? If you took the foreigners out of English football the quality would be so dire it would be quite frankly unwatchable.
I say, more foreigners - and only buy English if they are exceptional talents - but these players are VERY VERY few and far between.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Our style of play isn’t that technical. I think people go a bit overboard when they say only a few players can fit into our team. Owen is fully capable of taking a ball down and laying it off, he showed that at Real Madrid who at that time also played a fair amount of technical football. As long as our midfield stays technically exceptional, we can afford to have a striker like Owen who is a tad limited in that department. At least Owen wouldn’t shank everything in front of goal like Adebayor, and that would easily compensate for deficiencies outside the box.
As for moaning about English players, no one moaned about Bergkamp, Pires, and Vieira because they were exceptional players. Any fool could see they were far better than anything England had to offer. It’s when Wenger chooses mediocre players like Flamini over homegrown talent that people get the hump. Same now with Martins, pay £4 million more money for an inferior player.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Owen is one of those exceptional talents I am talking about - how many British strikers have been as a lethal as him in the last 30 years? Not many. I wouldn’t mind Owen, but unfortunately, his history of injuries makes him a massive gamble, especially at British prices.
The fact is exceptional players are everywhere except Britain for the most part, hence why only a fool would pay over the odds for a British player - and Wenger is not a fool and Arsenal cannot afford to throw money down the drain because someone’s passport says “British”, especially with the club in such debt.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Are you saying that guys like David Beckham and Steve Gerrard aren’t technically sound? They’re English.
I’ve watched English football since it was still mainly English.And while you are correct that the players have traditionally tended not to be as technical as their continental counterparts, I’d hardly say there aren’t exceptions, nor is that an immutable state. It has slowly begun to change, do in large part to the foreign influence. The 5-year ban on English clubs traveling to the continent enforced in the wake of Heysel in 1985 had an impact on English football that still shows an affect today. Look at how dominant English clubs were before 1985, versus after the ban was lifted.
Whatever the case, you shouldn’t buy ANY players not of exceptional talent — English or otherwise.
But that’s not the point I was making. English players tend to be tougher, which is what it takes to play in the EPL. There has been a shift in the last 10 years or so of quality and technical proficiency of English footballers, and let’s not forget that the greatest Gunner of all times is and always will be Tony Adams, not Thierry Henry.
And actually Danny, you illustrated my point about foreign players being more likely to flee when you mentioned Vieira & Pires, both of whom (and now Henry as well) left to go to sunnier climates where the game is played at a less physical level — and you can accept the rubbish about it having to do with the manager or whatever, I don’t. What do you expect them to say?
Bergkamp was an exception, and a blessing at that. I didn’t say I don’t want any foreigners — I just said I would like to see more English players come in.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:56 am
I will take Owen over Martins. But then again I will take Anelka over Owen.
In general I will take Tevez or Eto`o over anyone else. Quality has nothing to do with passports.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:07 am
For god sake, read what I wrote. I said English talent is VERY VERY few and far between - then you go and pick two of the best English players over the last decade. I don’t care who Wenger buys as long as they are absolutely top quality or can be tutored to become as such, unfortunately not every player is going to fulfill his potential and English players all too often flatter to deceive. However, under Arsenal’s current financial climate it would be absurd to pay £4-5m more for an English player over a foreign equivalent.
In fact if you have a look at the English players Wenger has bought, Jeffers, Wright, Bentley, Upson, Pennant - they have all struggled badly or failed to fulfil their potential at the highest level. Pennant is finally growing up but he’s so thick he could self-destruct at any moment. And who is the worst player in Arsenal’s entire first team squad - Justin Hoyte is you ask me! And if it’s loyalty you’re after - two words can fix that - Ashley Cole.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:58 am
I’d take Martins… he is very talented… not injured and re-injured… like the risk that Owen would be.
That rumor is gaining steam… it might end up being Martins.
And I will repeat…I’d have loved Anelka WITH HENRY.
Arsene Wenger had stated previously that Henry/Anelka was his dream pairing.
Anelka alone, ummm… as I stated, all strikers aren’t as good without Henry to create space and attract defenders. I don’t know that he’s capable of being the BIG DOG.
But if our option was to take him, or go with what we have….
Please SIGN HIM NOW.
What we have isn’t good enough.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I’m not so sure about Martins. I think he’s too short and we already have a team that struggles in the air. Adding a 5′ 7″ player isn’t going to help, particularly against teams like Bolton and Blackburn with their physical style.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
There’s no way Anelka is coming, Wenger would have bought him before now if he trusted him and all was forgiven. Forget about it and don’t start getting desperate - nobody wants Anelka, he was moaning the season before last about leaving Bolton but it appears that everyone has had enough of him. He was only at Liverpool a few months and they got rid - he seems to scour the world looking for sign-on fees pocketing the cash then moving on again - no big club will touch him anymore, so Wenger’s not going to.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Seattlegooner - height doesn’t always = strength. Look at Baptista, built like a brick shithouse but as physical as Bambi, then you have Essien, a little midget but strong as an ox. Adebayor doesn’t really put himself about either, nothing like Drogba does. The physical thing is more of an attitude than anything, whether you have the bravery to go in for a tough tackle regardless of the consequences.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Either way, I do not want Martins at Arsenal. I like to pigeon hole players or at least have an idea of what type of the player they are and what they will consistently bring to the team. I’ve watched Martins a bit and i’m still none the wiser on that score. He doesn’t have any definable feature that would fit in with an overall team structure. A mystery, even probably to Newcastle fans as well.