Tedious Transfers and do we really need a new CB?

Morning Gooners,


Like many gooners I listened to Wenger and Gazidis when the season ended and heard that Arsenal FC intended to spend money bringing players in and at the same time were finally ready to get rid of a lot of the dead wood that was sitting on the fringes of our squad.

I waited in May and June telling myself to be patient, players are still on holiday etc, etc, the players will be rolling in soon. We are now towards the end of July and we still have the same stories that were flying around when last season finished, in fact, they're the same stories from last summer. Barca are days away from signing Fabregas, Samba, Cahill, Jagielka linked with moves to Arsenal, I even saw the Melo rumour pop up again the other day on Newsnow. Sometimes I really wish I could take a long sleep and wake up on September 1st when the whole window is closed.

Before you get on my case, I understand that deals take time and I know that we have been in for players such as Phil Jones and had bids rejected but Wenger himself has set a deadline of July 31st for the Cesc saga to come to an end because he will have no time to replace him so surely he understands that other managers will be thinking the same thing. We are moaning about Barca offering less than they know is a price likely to be accepted then we do the same with our own targets. We need to move now and bring players in quickly, if that means paying an extra £2-3m per player in an environment where Chelsea pay more for their manager than we have ever paid for a player then pay it.

The other thing that is frustrating me this pre-season is our transfer targets. We have brought in Carl Jenkinson, no issues there, Eboue is past his best and is surely one of those player that we would move on if we can find someone to take him. Gervinho is a great attacking prospect and will push Theo, Arshavin and Nasri for a starting spot and competition is good for performances however we do not seem to be (in public knowledge) be looking for another defensive midfielder to push Alex Song. Song played half of last season knowing that if he was fit, he started. He needs someone challenging his spot to get the best out of him, a player like Scott Parker would do that and is also a player that would do a good job for us and jump at the chance to join us, even if it was only on loan.

The position we are being linked with most players to fill is centre back. My question is this... why? Why do we need a fifth centre back? Why do we need a player such as Cahill or Samba or Jagielka? Are they better than Koscielny or Djourou? Stop laughing at the question and ask yourself again are the three centre backs named above worth spending the clubs precious cash on? Vermaelen will start the season as our main CB, there can be no doubt about that. If he stays, Squillaci will be our last ditch, fourth choice CB which leaves Djourou and Koscielny fighting to partner TV5. I track back to a blog I read by Arsenal Vision who with the help of EPL Index compared last seasons stats for Kos and Samba and they read as follows:

Koscielny:

Pass completion: 85%
Tackle Success: 78%
Ground 50-50 Duels won: 58%
Aerial Duels won: 53%
Interceptions: 91

Samba:

Pass Completion: 63%
Tackle Success: 73%
Ground 50-50 Duels won: 64%
Aerial Duels won: 69%
Interceptions: 79 

The thing that stands out for me is that Kos wins 3 categories, Samba wins 2. Now I don't have stats for Cahill but I doubt they are significantly better than Kos' and I'd feel safe betting the same is the case for Jagielka. In my eyes, our best partnership would be that of TV5 and Kos and it is not worth spending £15m on a defender that will not significantly improve our team and on top of that Song can be very strong in the centre of defence and if we had another DM then that would be another option open to Wenger. Lets also not forget that this was Koscielny's first season so he was producing stats equal to our supposed targets whilst still adapting to the English league. 

I know I am in the vast minority in this argument but I honestly do not think we need to sign another CB unless one of ours leaves, I am much more concerned about recruiting a new defensive midfielder to challenge Song and a replacement at left back because as much as Wenger tries to convince us otherwise, Gibbs is not good enough to be a regular starter for a team that should be challenging for the title.

Sorry for what seems to be a very negative blog but these niggles must be shouted out at some point and frustration needs to be vented. I am sure that Wenger knows what this team needs more than I do, you do or anyone else does for that matter but we need to be a better squad than we were last year, especially with our rivals all strengthening theirs and with the very real possibility of  Fabregas and Nasri playing elswhere next year we need strong signings and we need them now.

Till next time,

Goonerfish.

More transfer stuff: £8m bid for Samba & Arshavin commits.

Morning Gooners,

Still loads of transfer 'news' flying about in the press. It seems that as Wenger has stated he is ready to spend some cash, we are being treated to even more transfer links than before. I don't mind it too much myself, without the mix of possibility and obvious bollocks the summer would just be boring.

Here's a few from the last couple of days:

GERVINHO: The Brazilian turned Ivory Coast star is moving into the last year of his contract at Lille and has stated that he would like to play in Champions League which will have no effect on a transfer as Lille have qualified but he has also said he would like to play in England. With Eden Hazard committing (verbally at least) to the French club they may well let him go and reported choices include us, Spuds, Scousers and Newcastle, that's where the Champions League wish comes in. It could have legs to this story but only time will tell.

STUART DOWNING: Downing looks ready to leave Villa in search for Champions League football. Personally I don't see him fitting into our system very well so unless we switch to a solid 4-4-2 next year I don't know how many games he'd get, saying that, it's my understanding that we have sent scouts to watch him closely on several occasions. If he could choose, I'm sure he'd pick us but whether or not Wenger opens an invite to him remains to be seen.

CHRISTOPHER SAMBA: The 27 year old Blackburn defender is reportedly the subject of an £8m bid. Samba was close to joining us in January and Wenger has been following him for a while. A solid, no nonsense centre back could be what we need but will he really want to come to a club where he will be fourth choice? If Samba sees it as a challenge he wants to accept, this deal could well be possible.

KARIM BENZEMA: A couple of days ago, Benzema was apparently Arsene Wenger's number one transfer target, now mainstream press has gone quite on the story. It's probably due to the fact that Benzema himself has come out and said he expects to be playing at Real next year, more importantly, he wants to be playing there. Unless something changes such as Mourinho telling him he's unwanted I think we can assume this saga is over.

RADAMEL FALCAO: Porto's star striker has been playing tough with his current club and refusing to sign a new contract. He currently has two years left but it seems it would still take a bid of around £25m to secure his services. No comment has been made about him from the Arsenal camp but he has been scouted by Arsene's team. As always, a player with this kind of price tag would be a massive change of habit for Le Boss so until I see or hear something solid, this will remain just a rumour.

ANDREI ARSHAVIN: AA23 has come out and said he intends to be an Arsenal player at the start of next season. This is good news as far as I'm concerned. Yes he frustrates the living hell out of anyone and everyone connected with the club but considering he joint top of the league's assist table he can't be all bad. He is currently training with Zenit in an attempt to remain fit for Russia's upcoming games which lead to theories he would sign for them over the summer.

CESC FABREGAS: AC Milan have said they will not be bidding for our captain because he is too expensive. Nothing to do with the fact that he would laugh in your face whilst rejecting you? No? oh OK.

CARLOS VELA: Vela has been told by Wenger he expects him back at the start of pre-season ready to go. This apparently means that he's not going to be sold in the summer. Personally I think that if a half decent offer comes in for him, well take it to help fund our own transfer activity.


Moving away from rumours and speculation, Arsenal have secured the signatures of two Barcelona youngsters Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin on 5 year contracts. I am assuming that Arsenal are waiting for the results of their DNA tests before announcing it on Arsenal.com. Bellerin has already started talking about how he will return to Barca one day, it's sad that we're going to have to relive the Fabregas saga with Barca in ten years time but if the young men can produce the talent and ability whilst wearing the Arsenal shirt that Fabregas has we will certainly enjoy it while it lasts.

Obviously all eyes are now on the Champions League final, hopefully this time next year we will be getting all nervous and excited before Arsenal take to the pitch in the top game of European club football. Personally I'm really looking forward to Messi making Evra look like the royal tit that he his.

Till next time,
Goonerfish.