Welcome Alex Chamberlain & Transfer movement heats up.

Morning Gooners,


What a day yesterday turned out to be.

There's only one place to start and that is the arrival of our newest Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Reports started late morning that AOC had arrived at London Colney for a medical ahead of a move. A transfer rumour that was floating about the whole of last summer, then again in January and has even been thrown about in hope a couple of times already this summer but the speed of the deal actually being completed took me by complete surprise. You only need to look at the deals for Nasri, Arshavin and even Gervinho to see how long the press circulates it before the player signs on the dotted line and we see an announcement on Arsenal.com but the deal today went from speculation of a medical to pictures online of AOC within a matter of hours. Maybe it was because other big clubs were sniffing so we knew if we stalled as normal then we'd lose out again but honestly, I don't care. We asked for signings and yesterday we got our third of the summer.

Oxlade Chamberlain made 41 appearances for Southampton last season in all competitions scoring 11 goals and creating another 9. He played on the right hand side as an attacking midfielder last season and is capable of playing that role on either side but in his first interview for Arsenal Player has confessed he prefers a central role (I swear I've heard that somewhere before). AOC's performances last year helped Southampton earn promotion to the Championship and earned him a place in the 2010/11 PFA League one team of the year. He signed of his Southampton career with his final goal for the Saints and hopefully we won't be waiting too long before we have to fit Alex's extended surname into a song to sing after his first Arsenal goal.

For a team that only a few years ago were criticised and accused for being the sole reason for the destruction of English football, we now have a potential world beating BRITISH midfield with Jack, AOC, Theo, Frimpong and Ramsey

Welcome to Arsenal Alex, you are most welcome.

Many expect Chamberlain's arrival to mark the beginning of  a busy week in the transfer market for Arsenal Football Club with players coming in and going out, we still don't know what our squad will look like by the time we travel to St James Park on Saturday evening. We are still actively seeking a central defender and the transfer of Joel Campbell seems to be almost completed, once he returns from the U20 championships we should soon see his face on the pages of Arsenal.com.

I mentioned before that the movement will be both in and out. Nicklas Bendtner has reportedly agreed terms with several unnamed clubs and is now just waiting for Arsenal to sanction a move. Bendtner must have agreed to a pay cut wherever it is he's going as no other club would be willing to match his current high wages but it seems that playing week in, week out is top of his agenda. I have always said, and indeed continue to say that Bendtner is a very good striker (not quite as good as he thinks he is but still very good) but his style has never matched Arsenal's. I maintain that if Bendtner joins a club that plays a strict 4-4-2 with an attacking flow to match his own qualities he will do very well and will become the 20-25 goal a season striker we all hoped he would prove to be in an Arsenal shirt.

When asked about his future Bendtner said:

“I would like to play at a place where you are happy and play every week, that is the most important thing for any football player and hopefully that will happen soon.”

However when he was asked if Stoke city was a possible destination he showed why we love him by simply laughing. He then added:

 “I can’t say anything about who I have been speaking to, but hopefully it will all get sorted out soon.”

I doubt Arsene will allow him to move on until a suitable replacement is secured especially as Chamakh can't find his form for love or money and in all honesty I will be sorry to see him go but he will not be first choice if Van Persie is fit so for his career, a move away is the only option.

Arsenal also expect a bid from Mancherster City of about £22m for Samir Nasri before the season starts and it's looking more likely that we will accept it. In all honesty, that amount of money for a player who in fairness has only had half a decent season in England is a good deal and will continue Citeh's habit of paying us well over the odds for players who go on to achieve nothing with them.

Nasri's departure will be unfortunate and again, he's a player I would like to see stay and develop at Arsenal but we have players that will replace him and Arsenal will carry on. Nasri's sale could well fund a move for a player such as Mata and I for one would much rather have a player that wants to be in an Arsenal shirt than a player who is looking forward to moving away next year.

That last thought links me nicely on to our 'captain' Cesc Fabregas. before I go back into this whole saga lets look at the facts.

1) Cesc wants to play for Barcelona.
2) Barcelona would like Cesc to play for them.
3) Barcelona do not need Cesc.
4) Arsenal do not need the money.
5)Barcelona will not pay the money

Unless Barcelona pull their finger out and show some real intent then Cesc Fabregas will be an Arsenal player next season. Until that happens or not for certain I will avoid the arguments of Cesc's continued captaincy of our beloved club but just for a second imagine this side lining up next season:
           
              Szczesny
Sagna - Kos - Vermaelen - Gibbs
                  Song
           Cesc - Wilshere
Walcott        -                Gervinho
                 RVP

Subs: Fabianski, Arshavin, Ramsey, AOC, Jenkinson/Djourou, Rosicky (with his newly found hunger), Chamakh

That is a team that is capable of winning trophies. If Cesc is part of our team next year his service to Walcott and especially Gervinho combined with RVP's link up play will be a sight that any team in Europe will fear. That team will also be a result of a very successful summer inn the transfer market. Add in to this equation another CB and another striker then we could even survive a couple of injuries as long as they are not TV5 type injuries that knock someone out for the entire season.

Of course, by the time this is published Barca could have announced that they will match our asking price and Cesc is on his way, in that case we just have to hope that Arsene will use any funds raised to bring in a suitable replacement and by that I mean a player that IS world class, not WILL be world class.

My final word is aimed at fans that read about Alex Chamberlain's signing yesterday and responded with moans and complaints that he wasn't a big enough name or he isn't world class or he's not a centre back.
Relax. Calm down and enjoy the fact that we have added another player to our squad that will add depth and ability to our club. We have signed someone, enjoy it. It all comes down to one fact, it doesn't matter who wears the shirt, I, you, we support Arsenal Football Club and will welcome anyone into our superb family with open arms.

On a personal note, anyone reading this in London or other effected areas please stay safe within this madness. It's times like these that football becomes insignificant within the greater picture. Take care of those close to you and hopefully this insanity will soon be over.

Till next time,
Goonerfish