Chris: Does Wenger really need to spend fortunes this summer?
Is a shiny-new show pony really what we need? asks Chris Pryke
Benzema, Melo, Chiellini? Reina? Ronaldinho?! The likelihood of these exotic talents landing in North London to take up Thierry’s mantle and sweep Arsenal to a new age of CL glitz and PL glamour seems slimmer than the supermodel girlfriends of these showponies. Slimmer even than the chances of these supermodel girlfriends sidling up to the next table for a pint and some crisps, giving it all the “hey, why don’t you join us?” in my direction.
Maybe if I wish really hard……….ok so 10 minutes later and there are no supermodels at the next table, and the idea of any of the footballing world’s great and/or good signing for the Gunners this summer still seems unlikely. Anyway, it’s un-Wenger-like, all that quality people already know about. So bourgeois. So obvious. Geez guys.
But I’ve got a question. What if big signings, this summer at least, aren’t just unlikely and un-Wenger-like, what if they’re also unnecessary? Whisper it, really quietly, and not if you’re anywhere near United fans, but by jove I think we’ve cracked it. We don’t need anyone! Call off the search, wind down the rumour mills, Arsenal have arrived and will conquer all next season.
Alright, hear me out Gooners. If we think we need quality, big showcase signings, where do we need them? The problem positions, the same ones that have been coming up for years are those dominating the tabloids. You’ve got your centre halves, pretty woeful since Sol, your keepers, pretty hapless since Seaman (yes Lens), your lightweight DMs and you distinctly un-fox-in-the-box-like centre forwards. Does that cover it?
So a spine is what we’re missing, apparently. Maybe that’s right, but look at it this way, where has Arsene’s thrifty approach to developing (usually stolen) young players got us? Well, check this for a spine:
Starting with Szczesny. Young? Yes. Tall, agile, confident, strong on crosses and shots, good communicator and distributor? Yes to all those too. He might not bring experience, but he does bring some much needed decisiveness to a back-line that regards corners with all the assurance of a learner driver at a busy roundabout. Let’s give him a chance to get established. Short of spending 20 million on a Barthez/Gomez/Taibi (plenty of expensive gambles out there) or snapping up a 38 year old, we have a keeper who is good and only getting better. I say we stick with him.
Now to Thomas Vermaelen: his freak injury stopped in its tracks one of the most meteoric rises of a competent, solid and ball playing centre back in the Premier League for years. Surely with TV at the defensive helm we can whip those wandering full-backs into shape (“stay on the post Clichy, go on son just stand there- WHY HAVE YOU RUN AWAY?!”), and maybe even scrape together one person who can jump and head from the dregs of Djourou, Koschielny and Squillaci.
Even if not, all we need is a “big’un”. You know the one from school, the ponderous lad with the size 12 boots and body odour problem who terrified the fast-kid into one too many step-overs (“Come on Theo just kick it round him and run. Ref, he just bumped him!”). Samba should do it then, but I bet some will be complaining when he trundles into town for less than 10 million.
On to Defensive Midfield, and I put it to all Arsenal fans that to still be discussing this position is an insult to Alex Song. Despite sporting “the Djibril Cisse” nightmare all season (apparently he wanted to stand out for his son on telly), this lad has turned bulk into presence, potential into poise and made a position previously inhabited by the lightweight let-downs messers Flamini and Denilson into an area of real strength. The creative triangle of Jack, Aaron and Cesc/Henri/Chamberlain will define the next era of Arsenal success well into the decade. And who will we have to thank for that? Song. You wait. He’ll be the actually good version of Fletcher that Alan Hansen will go on about being unsung every week, provided he’s still moping about the MoTD sofa. The unsung Song he’ll be, I can see it now. Enough on that position, except maybe some cover.
Can Eastmond handle it? If not then Cattermole might not be too expensive. Vieira? Now there’s a thought. He’s experienced, he exudes success, he could lift the whole team without even stepping onto the pitch, and we havn’t won a trophy without him. We know Wenger flirted with the idea last year, the only problem, bizzarely, is that he might be too cheap for Gunners fans afflicted by sheikh-envy.
Now we arrive at the striker. The fact is that VP just had the most prolific second half of a season in Premier League history, and he was out for the first half. Rush, Shearer, Zola, Cantona, Henry and Ronaldo step aside, it’s Robin Van Persie who takes that accolade. For a long time he’s been seen as more of a support striker, more about touch, teamwork and clever angles than hatfuls of goals from brave headers and scrappy finishes, but these qualities also make him a stonkingly good false-9, footy’s position du jour. Add the fact that Chamakh’s arial presence was looking like a god-send (until injury stopped him in his tracks in November), and we’re covered if we need to go all crazy-gang at the Britannia in January. And Theo wants to play down the middle too, and Vela will be back (who is, when all is said and done, really good at football). It’s not like we’re relying on Francis Jeffers, so let’s not pressure Arsene into another Reyes.
The truth is we’ve got the quality, and where we have been particularly poor, in defence, from set-pieces, we can be particularly improved by current personnel. Vermaelen had a freak season out and Szczesny was barely even established at the Emirates by the time he at the camp Nou was facing you-know-who, but he still did us proud. That partnership will blossom next season, and in that context expect to see Arsenal more organised, imposing and aggressive from set pieces that ever before. Provided we get that bigun’. Interesting to see that Hangeland made the second highest number of clearances last season, could be worth revisiting.
So Samba or Hangeland for 10 mil, maybe, and Vieira on a free would certainly add experience and cover. But Ronaldinho? Benzema for 30 million? Give me a break, we’re closer than that.
Wenger’s philosophy is about to be vindicated in style next season, as his young but hugely experienced side enjoy their first term with a settled spine since we last won a trophy. What odds on the quadruple? I suspect, however, that many of the more frustrated fans will endure another summer of discontent first.
So, is my Wenger-like aversion to splashing the cash really so deluded? Maybe it is, it seems that Samir would think so…
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at last some one has the sense to state the sit correctly
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well one reason why i want new players is coz i want to see players who are agressive, who want to win, who don’t wait 5 mins to say sorry to a guy rolling on the floor, i want lpayers with attitudes, who love our club and say f u too every one else.
the players have the skill to win alot, but they are just mentally pathetic. if you cant think strong, you’ll always be weak.
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Spot on. But would drop söng into cd and move tv to replace clichy. My gunners would look like this. Sczesny, sagna, song, kos/ xx, tv, wilshere and fab in dm role, nasri as the attacking mid, walcot supported by vp and arshavin. Would beat barca day n night
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Usmanov blamed the Board on all the problems facing Arsenal and he also highlighted how they are out of touch with reality. He clearly indicated that with all Arsenal commercial contract ending soon for the maximise good deal they need to show they are successful team. So things look tough for Arsenal unless they understand that good commercial deals can be gained when team is perceived as a successful team. But with other Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City all investing in buying good player can we be seen as being seen as being successful anymore. No one is agaist giving advantage to young players and bring your own players through the system but in order for a team to be successful it team to add some steel with recognized player. Even Barcelona that bring it own player through the Academy buys good players every season one or two
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Think you’ve hit the nail on the head really, would only say we need a big strong centre back, a back-up holding midfield and a prolific goalscorer up top to guarantee goals every game. Samba/Cahill, Melo/Inler (Frimpong?) and Falcao or Benzema would do it for me. I can even see us doing well without Fabregas and Nasri as long as the young players are willing to step up to the plate (Lansbury, Wilshere, Ramsey, Theo, and maybe Chamberlain..?)
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We are close to being good but not as close as you state. Our big problem is that we do not have depth, we need to add depth. I don’t mean kids, but experience. I don’t want Viera, his time is gone, he would be a good addition to the coaching staff. I don’t believe Djourou can do the job, he makes too many mistakes. The jury is out on Chamakh, we need someone there to help RVP. Vela ? Theo is great, he is really improving. Keep Fabregas at all cost, and make him understand that he is an Arsenal player not Barcelona, he made a choice years ago, and he has to honour the contract for now.
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you are right yet biased… first we need bigger salries to keep our top players… not bigger as way bigger but still we need to take the leap form 90-100,000 to 150,000 for players of the statures of fabregas, van persie, nasri and any other who demonstrates very top level, like wilshere next year or in two years.
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i think its madness to spend big on a striker till theo has had a chance down the middle, for all those that slate him its because he is being played outa position we are not getting the best from him. this guy is a striker through and through and should be spending every match hangin on the shoulder of the last defender. hes a good finisher down the middle but we judge him on tricky finishes from cutting in on tight angles and its not fair or getting the best outa theo.
As for the big sighning i agree we dont need it to improve quality, but most of this teams problems are phsycholigical and i just wonder if one big name like a benzema mite just wake up this squad! settle players like nasri and give all the youngsters something to look up to and aspire to. We know are team is good enough but maybe one really big sighning mite just give the club and fans a big lift mentally as i think we all need it, including wenger himself.
Good article though.
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Szczezny? Are yoyu kidding, he gave away the Carling cup… we need a gk. and 2 tall Centre-backs, Song is not a first team player for Arsenal… And don’ t forget, bring ENGLISH to the ENGLISH club… a first-team striker is needed, cause RVP is injury prone, wish he could play all season…. buy Defoe, he is not first-team at Tottenham and he’ s english…
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what a load o0f crap. ill give you one reason why we need to spend… to keep the likes of nasri,fabregas and RVP! they all want trophies and so do all the fans bar the 10 or so that actually agree with this stupid article.
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Horrible. These are the players that if we do not replace most of them, we won’t be playing Champs League the following year. From “garbage” to “should be playing for a lower level team”; Squillaci, Denilson, Fabianski/Almunia, Djorou, Diaby, and Rosicky. Don’t need to necessarily replace them with big money players, simply need better than what we have if we expect to win more than just a few games next season. Arshavin with his lack of effort should be used sparingly in 2nd halves from now on with Hazard as a direct replacement in that spot.
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STEKELENBURG…. I forgot it… buy him! I think he’s the best GK… He was amazing in the world cup… not above than 20m…
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Chris are reading all my comments? You love it don’t you? Nice article…Szczesny looks like a top GK, like van der sar and that danish coont from manure rolled into one. I’ve always said put theo down the middle, that’s where he’s played for southampton and his pace will ruin the likes of rio, vidic, cahill, terry, dawson, bedley (king) for good…..
We came close, we just need some tweaking and like you said a backbone: we have VP, Jacky boy and Szczesny, all we need is a CB. Could it be vermaelen? One signing for each area I would say…that would do it.
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ARSENAL’S BOARD INCLUDING WENGER IS A MAFIAT MAKING MONEY ON OUR BACK …NO MORE SEASON TICKET FOR ME… SICK AND TIRED
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Apparently some of our fans wouldn’t know a quality team if it sat on them, the current team is not close and is basically a joke.
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We just need a CB, a DM and a ST.
I think we should add Cahill/Samba, Parker/Melo, Falcao/Benzema/Gervinho……
We need to keep Nasri at all costs if Fabregas goes out…..
I would recommend signing at least Samba or Parker, as they are leaders and mentally strong players which are needed here.
We should get rid of Rocisky,Squillaci,Bartender, and Denilson.
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and what about injuries?? robin is injury prone, and what if song, or vermaelen has got injuried?? i think some top class players can improve the team, agree competition in positions and will fix our injury problems. go for samba or cahill, keep clichy and nasri, buy benzema and we win EPL and fight for CL. And if we cant keep fabregar maybe we would find some substitute. New signs inject some winning mentaly too or some “wenger really likes go for trophies this year” thougs.
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Our squad is very good like it is now , all we need is a strong center back and a real finisher ( chamakh can’t score goals ) and rvp is on fire but someone who could replace him while injured or even play with 2 in front .
Sczeny
Sagna – samba – vermaelen – clichy
Song
Wilshere – fabregas
Nasri ( or walcott )
Falcao – van persie
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We need 4 players
buy
1. A big centre back 12-12 million for Samba – perfect
2. Competition for Song another 10 million
3. Another Striker to replace Bendnter/Vela 10-15 mil
4. A wide man to replace Arshavin/Rosicky 15/2- mil
total about 55 million approx
Sell
Fabregas £40 mil
Bendtner 10 mil
Denilson 2-3 mil
Arshavin 5 mil
Rosicky 2 mil
CLichy 5-6 mil
total £65 million approx
profit £10 million
so I agree overall we don’t need to spend big but we do need to get rid of players who aren’t doing it or don’t want to be there and bring in better replacements.
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@gooner92 I hear your frustration mate, but everybody on this forum wants nothing more than to see that trophy cabinet full again. But what happened last time we were dominant? Did the invincibles arrive on yachts from Monaco and sweep aside all before them? No, not even close, that team came together in much the same way we are seeing now: Vieira 0.5mil, Pires 5mil, Henry 11mil, Campbell free, etc. etc. Arsenal (and Man City) are welcome proof that it ain’t all about the money, and I for one love the Gunners for that. Lets not abandon the project, lets just make it work.
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The first X1 is very close and should be retained
Szczesney/Fabianski
Sagna Djourou/Koscielney Vermaelen Gibbs
Song Wilshire
Fabregas
Walcott RVP Nasri/Arshavin
Its this dross of a side that needs selling
Almunia
Eboue Hoyte Squillaci Clichy
Eastmond Denilson
Diaby
Rosicky Bendtner Vela
Replace that lot with
Mannone
Jagielka Bartley Samba Botelho
Frimpong Parker
Lansbury
Chamberlain Falcao Hazard
subs: Martinez, Traore, Jenkinson, Coquelin, JET, Afobe, Miyaichi
There you have a decent squad of 32 players.
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Clearly written by someone without a season ticket, or written by wenger in disguise.
Almost as bad as the article are some of responses to it. The usual response starts with ‘all we need is:’ – to get 3 world class players would mean wenger spending 3x more than he has EVER spent in his history at arsenal – and most people want more than 3, so what do you think is the reality? I think it’s obviously going to be another disappointing summer for arsenal fans
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great to see an optimistic and at the same time sensible post.
well DONE!
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We don’t need no showcase signings. We just have to add some more ammunition to boost up our chance in winning trophies. Do you think we have to spend much? If you do, then you’re wrong. We have to buy some more players for reasonable price. I mean, un-City-like signing, just ordinary necessary signing which will be effective. We are never going to pay more than what’s worth the players. Let’s be honest, we need more players, to make an internal competition in them team. You wanna play, go for it, fight for it. Those who can’t will be seating on the bench, and the winner will deliver trophies.
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firstly lets get something straight,the team was built around henry and yes he was a great player but how great would he have been if the meastro dennis was not in the team,we also need to get rid of all the french speaking players except nasri,wenger has a thing for french speaking players,omg they are mostly crap,what the team needs is an english defence,a european holding midfield and then a striker from anywhere that is world class,robin van percy is not a born striker,he is more like dennis used to be,playe behind the front line,also we got crap goallies except maybe one.the other thing i gotta say is when can we get rid of wenger,omg he got his head up his own ass,what a twat,if you have a look at the team with only the players that he has baught,they have wone nothing,all the trophies that have come under his time as manager have been with teams that he had from the start if his managerial reign—-so he didnt buy any of the players—-to teams that were a mixture of old a new—–im sorry wenger but youre great experiment has failed,o yes—-he didnt see it—-get rid of wenger aswell—–sends some money and get trophies but at ckub.
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Obviously we do because we need players wiv strength, an who r older dan bloody 19 n we really need a goalkeepa n beta defence
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just replace the players that are leaving, that will be enough
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George-Greece, you appear to know absolutely nothing about football. Stay in oblivion.
Spot on article, though the author’s opinion of Vela is…pretty unusual…
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We need some strength in the team some1 who is willin to fight til the end we giv up to easily the team is good we jus need a couple of new players to improve the squad and add to competition for places… Gibbs has to be LB next season i jus dnt trust clichy in that position he makes to many mistakes…
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Some good points….. However I recall reading posts in the same vein as this for the past 4-5 seasons. There are those who would like to see millions spent on a multitude of big name signings and those who would rather stick with what weve got. Up until the collapse at the end of last season I was with the stick with what youve got camp. We have some fantastic talent at the club which will certainly ensure our position in the top 4 for many years to come. However the top 4 is not good enough. I belive that money now needs to be spent to ensure the young talent we have can reach the next level. My main concern is at the back. Schezney is a great keeper and deserves to be our number one. Fabianski will be number 2. The only change I would make here is to get a more reliable number two if the worst were to happen to the young Pole. Fabiansk has his moments but doesnt instill the confidence in the rest of the players that is necessary in the big games. However the cancer that is eating away at our teams defence is the back 4. There is no doubt that Tommy is quality and is sure of a starting berth. In my opinion the other three are awful. Squillachi is one of the worst players that Wenger has brought through the doors and Koscielny is not far behind. I think that Laurent would be an ok squad player as he sometimes provides us with a good performance, his best was certainly against Barca of all people, but there is then the madness of the Carling cup final… need i say more?? Djourou has been at the club for a long time now and has yet to prove a solid premiership player, he would be my back up CB. I think we need someone with passion and a “hard man” mentality and reputation. I agree Samba will be the man to come in here this summer. I think we missed a trick with Phil Jones going to UTD. He is young, committed, physical and is a great ball playing CB. He would have been my other choice.. as he has moved already I really like Sakho.
As for DM I would have to say Scotty Parker. He was fantastic last season and I think he would add great maturity and composure to the midfield. Also he wouldnt hinder the progression of Song but would take some pressure off of him at the same time. He would also still allow Frimpong to develop alongside international players and get a game or two in whilst he continues his recovery from that nasty injury last season.
Provided we can keep the other players in the squad I would let Vela leave and make a marquee signing up front. Lukaku for me is fantastic, young, strong, quick and at 18-20mil is a bragain. Falcao is also being linked with a move and is a proven player who can take some of the goal scoring pressure away from RVP..
If you need to replace Denilson then Oxelade-Chamberlain from Southampton.
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What about Cavani? He was the leader of Napoli last year…. He can take Arsenal from the hand…. Partner of van Persie or alone when he’ s injured….
Also Stekelenburg, Baines, Samba, Parker and Sakho/Roger Johnson/Jagielka. And sell Squillaci, Bartender, Chamakh, Fabregas, Clichy, Denilson and Diaby. Rosicky is good for back-up and he’ s experienced…. Maybe Koscielny needs a loan to have a progress…
Arsenal for 2011-2012
Stekelenburg
Sagna-Samba-Sakho/Roger Johnson/Jagielka-Baines
Parker-Wilshere-Song/Ramsey
Walcott-Cavani-Van Persie
Also, as you see, Nasri is not needed… So, sell him to Bayern….
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Also Robert Green would be a good back-up, and Wenger can sell Mannone, Almunia, Szczesny and Fabianski…
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written by armchair pundit.
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Spot on mate! American,i think you don’t know what u re saying just like Usmanov. If arsenal will be renewing sponsorship deals in 2yrs time,is it not good that when we will finally be exploring the indian market as well as the whole of asia,we’ll be in the best position-great financial base to buy all the big names we can. Spending the way most arsenal fans want now,will only plunge the club further into debt as our main source of revenue now,is from ticket sales. For me Usmanov is all for the now- success(which will interest some of the fans) but is disaster in the long run. Do we need to sign new players? Yes. Go herderson crazy? No.
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ha!ha!!ha!!! Yes we don’t need player that can add steel and winning mentality to the team. So, we should keep Bendtner,Squillaci,Rosicky,Vela,Denilson etc. What a joke. I won’t be suprised if some ‘Arsenal fans’ want the club to become Leeds United.
Wenger clear the room for quality players and clear out the dead woods!
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Depends on what you mean by a fortune. To clubs down the bottom of the EPL two or three million is a fortune, to City, Chelsea and United it`s peanuts. So to Arsenal. I haven`t done this excercise myself but Wenger with his economics background will have calculated the module average. He will have worked out just what the going rate is for clubs in the EPL working within a cash flow structure ( no sugar daddy`s). Based on this, and knowing he`s a bit better off than most, he will reach a rationale. There is no point in trying to out bid the `glory clubs` you don`t get better value, probably worse. This is where Wenger gets his 10 million pound philosophy from. Some ask “will he ever change”? Will the laws of economics ever change? There`s your answer.
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A real men is all that is needed, not the current team and how they behave, even Evra said they are Babies which is not wrong by a long mile.
Increasing season tickets! Not already qualified to the champions league! Losing our players on the cheap! No big stars coming to the club from a long time! No TV channel like all big clubs have!
Clearly something is wrong, so something big is needed to change this rot, either by splashing the cash to solve the problem or Getting a new coach that actually know how to deal with his players and let them perform to the last minute of the match like Ferguson or Morinho who are well respected by their players.
Although we have quality players, promising players, star players, if Wenger can’t convince them and instill in them winning mentality we will still fail like always, I’m sure the cure is buying real men or changing the manager will do the job.
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Most of the players that wenger need is already in his pocket.
True Winger: Miyaichi
Striker : Vela, Aneke
Midfielder : Lansbury
Deffender: Bartley
All already tested and proven on their loan spell this season.
All we need is keeping cesc and nasri and add 1 or 2 influential player who can lift the team ( a deffender). Attitude is more important, not the skill. We have more than enough skills.
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Arsenal fans are even for crazy than wenger!!!! We are in the biggest crises at arsenal for over 30 years wake up u mugs!!!!!! Wenger spend bug or out!!!!!!!!!! And take the shot with him!! Almunia! Squelchi! Clichy! Rosicky! Denisen! Diaby!!!! Bentner!!!! Walcott the most over rated c-nut in the world!!! Take them all with u wenger or sell then and replace them with qualiity like metasaker! Baines!! Mello! French boy from lille!! And benizima!!! It’s not hard!!!! And keep nasri for f-sake!!!
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@George… Vermaulen?
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Vermaelen, maybe as a left-back in defensive games, he’ s not a defence leader, I think. Samba and Sakho, 2 leaders…. and buy an ENGLISH back-up. get rid of djourou, koscielny, squillaci…
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Let’s not lie to ourselves…we need to buy strong players, and we need to do it early.
Wenger’s transfer policy has been faulty for 6 years…do we need a 7th year to know he has to change it?
Wenger, buy strong players to strengthen our team, and make sure you keep the strong ones you have already.
Gunner, Win or Loose.
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bullshit!GOALKEEPING:Sczsesny lacks experience and the rest…well,nothing needs to be said.
DEFENCE: Apart from Vermaleen and Sagna,the rest are accidents waiting to happen!
MIDFIELD:This is the strength of the team;but Song needs a cover bcos of injury and African nations cup coming up;Diaby would have been appropriate,but he is very injury-prone.I also think Nasri should be moved to the right to join Walcot there as he is relatively ineffective on the left,remember he performed better when he played from the right.Eden hazard should be bought to slug it out with Arshavin on the left.
ATTACK:Get rid of Bendtner and replace him with Falcao or Benzema.
If Wenger continues down this youth road he has been going,then another trophyless season is a certainty.
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i dont think anyone has really thought this through… think about arsenal’s playing style…whenever any player comes in all new they are instantly trained to arsenal spec but i8t always takes a season for them to settle to it…even glorious henry took a season to become settled and so will any other new player…no matter how much you spend. secondly no-one is thinking about the squad limits because they are there , if we want to buy players then we have to sell players which isnt good for team morale if you sell the wrong person….but i dont disagree that we need players. i mean VP is a good supporting striker one of the best but isnt a strong striker that at the end of the day everyone can think he will save our ass’s in the last 5 mins like henry when you always had hope….our goalkeeper situation is terrible we either need to make one of our young uns world class or buy a world class goal keeper because truth is they are the diffrence between 4th-5th and 1st and 2nd .we need a defensive player..i agree.but we dont neeed a big signing because buying high profile defensive players never works because they only play on form at the club it originated from …think to glen johnson played brilliant …went to liverpool and is just not the same or think to vidic or vermallean both outstanding defendors but werent exactly high profile ….. but on the midfield i am proud to say who we have there…song an upcomming defensive midfielder who improves more every season then jack wilshere the hotest new hope from englands young talent to nasri a master of skill and tech (if we keep him) and if we keep him…fabregas possibly the worlds greatest midfielder today and still young a realible skipper and passes to match the eye of an eagle but lets not forget theo walcott his speed mostly unmatched unmongst most other players and his abillity to work extremely well under pressure is a valueable asset to the club….and arshavin as a great sub sure he may be of form but if he was to regain confidence and go back on to top form he will be the world class russian he was once known as ….. so if we are to spend money its on keeping this midfield and investing to other area’s of the pitch
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@scott hahaha your lack of knowledge inwenger amuses me …. when wenger came in it was him who bought henry and it was him who changed our structure to always be in the top 4 rather then finish out of it…he changed everything about the team he didnt just sit on the old team and win stuff…. he was a true manager and took a team he had and made it better with a small signing who turned out to be a world class player (henry) he inspired the team..and sometimes thats all a team needs….let me ask you this who other then wenger is best suited for the aresnal job ? no one … because no other great manager would be able to handle it think to mourihno he has only been at clubs with lots of money…he wouldnt no what to do here at all …. unless u change who owns the club for someone who will spend who cares less for the club then change manager and so change all the staff and so change players…its just not happening …so when you say get rid of wenger ..u sir are mistaken
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What is all this hype around parker about he is a hard worker but he is not arsenal quality he will disrupt the playing style. he IS NOT WORLD CLASS, we dont need him.
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most importantly we need players who want to join arsenal fc bcoz of arsenal fc and not wenger….also those who want to win with arsenal fc not who develop with us and want to go to barcelona or real or man u or bayern to win….
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most importantly we need players who want to join arsenal fc bcoz of arsenal fc and not wenger….also those who want to win with arsenal fc not who develop with us and want to go to barcelona or real or man u or bayern to win….kinda like jenkinson…really like him…a true arsenal fan+player…
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First things first. Part of the problem is the formation we are playing. A deep 4-2-3-1 will get us nowhere. Push the midfield up the park and have them play down the middle. 4-2-3-1 is good, but when played defensively and wide, it’s a sign that we are weak in midfield.
GK – We need Szczesny to go out on loan for one season to somewhere like Wigan, because he will have to make loads of saves there because of a shit defence. This way, he will get a true test of Goalkeeping with minimal pressure.
Buy Given for his last year of football. He’s top class and won’t cost too much because he’s 38 or so and isn’t the first choice. 3 mill should be enough. Loss of 3 mill.
LB – Sell Clichy. He makes too many mistakes, and he wants to leave anyway.
Buy Baines. He’ll be a sulbime tutor to Gibbs and is easily the best LB in the league. We’ll get about 6mill for Clichy and we’ll probably need to spend 10-12 mill on Baines. Loss of 6 mill.
CB – Sell Koscielny and Squillaci. Both of them are useless piles of shit that we should never have bought in the first place. If anything, the only problem will be finding a place for them to go to. If we get them at the right club, we could easily get about 12 mill for the pair of them.
Buy Huth. He’s big, and probably wont want to stay at Stoke after a great season, he’ll aim higher. He’ll be about 8 mill. Profit – 4 mill.
RB – No change. Sagna is brilliant and Hoyte is a decent backup for him.
CM – If Fabregas wants to go, let him go. He’s been shit this season and no wonder. We can get £45 mill for him if we’re lucky, and he won’t even get first team football at Barca.
Sell Denilson & Rosicky. Get about 8 mill for the pair.
Buy two midfielders. One with a high goalscoring tally (I’d go for Marek Hamsik) and one with a good amount of flair (I’d go for Andrea Poli). Both are young and have a lot to give. I reckon for the both of them you’d have to pay about £30 million because the Italian teams are greedy bastards, but it’s worth the price. Even so, it leaves us with a Profit of £23 million.
CAM – Wilshere, Arshavin, Van Persie. Nuff said. No change.
ST – Sell Chamakh and Bendtner and get about £15 mill for the pair. Use Walcott. Vela is a backup and with some squad rotation so is RvP.
We get £33 million PROFIT from this and we are left with certain Title Contenders.
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nobody mentioned the gorilla in the room in that Ryodinho will be a top 10 player in the world within 3 years. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be Arsenal’s most dynamic player this side of RVP. The kid is that scary good. The only way teams have even had a chance of slowing him down is by literally triple marking him. This is in the same league that our so called savior Vertonghen plays at.
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Bollocks mate, u are wrong. yes we have good technically gifted players, yes we have a few match winners (nasri,arshavin,RVP,fab) but what we lack is confidence. Do you remember the days when arsenal used to go down 1-0 in almost every match before they eventually went on to win them, that is exactly what this team is lacking CONFIDENCE. In the starting of 10-11 campaign our team showed a bit of aggresivness but by the end of the campaign it all went out the door. Arsenal need players who can breath confidence and composure in the team just by being there on the field. so yes i think arsenal have to sign a couple world class players.
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@KGooner- I accept the confidence problem. We have match-winners in abundance, and very good quality everywhere else as I tried to argue. That’s why I advocate the signing of Vieira, damn cheap and would add a money-can’t-buy winning mentality and confidence that would spread throughout the squad. If this squad believe in themselves they will destroy any team out there, and if Vieira has one thing, even at his age, it’s self belief and the medal collection to back it up. We’re in agreement on this one, but i don’t think splashing 30 million quid will buy the self-assurance and aura that Pat would bring for free.
@yann- Ryo does look like a storming prospect, and the shirt sales alone will give arsene one hell of a war chest in 3-5 years time, but the question is whether the fans and the board will wait for more potential to come through. The dominant feeling is that fans want success next season, and Ryo’s got a few step-overs to lose and a few muscles to gain before being ready to win us things.
@Aussie Jack- very interesting take on the Wenger transfer policy. He does seem to use the word “value” alot, though sometimes it feels bit like a working-mum buying own-brand cereal to get best value. When you’re in the most extravagantly over-valued business in the world, and where your performance is judged purely on a trophy count then this kind of value-system goes out of the window. If arsene wants to be an accountant then he’s in the wrong game…
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Am I missing something? Our team is technically brilliant, but has the mental resilience of a wet paper bag. Has been the same for 3 years at least. Fab, Nasri, Clichy – great players but in crunch games last year absolutely went missing. Don’t need them. Look at united – less talent by 50% this year, but their mental strength pulled them across the line in a PL we could and should have won.
Wenger’s a genius, but can’t pick a keeper (richard wright anyone?) or a defender (stepanovs/senderos/djourou we could go on…) for toffee.
He needs resilient, mentally strong British players to complement the technically brilliant, but poncey foreign imports…
Otherwise we will win the same this year as last, and the year before and the year before and the year before…..)
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