Introducing Arsenal’s new centre-back – Ignasi Miquel!
Arsene Wenger has promised the Arsenal fans a new defender before the end of the transfer window, but there is no imminent signing on the horizon so far despite the big words.
Kyle Bartley was thought to be nearly ready to take the step up to the Arsenal first team, but after Wenger sent him out on loan it was assumed a new arrival would be named in his place.
The young Ignasi Miquel hasn’t been with the Gunners squad for any of the pre-season games, but it seems that Wenger has been watching him closely as he helped Spain to win the European Under-19 Championship this summer, playing in every single game.
Wenger was obviously impressed with what he saw because he has now named Miquel in the Arsenal senior squad for the new season, and the 18 year-old is understandably in a confident mood and ready to make an impact domestically as well as on the international scene.
Miquel said today: “Coming back from winning it is really big and I am coming back confident.”
“Winning the European Cup and being called up for the first-team without training with them – I am really happy. I go back now trying to improve myself to become better.
“The boss has said congratulations to me but now I have to forget about it and focus on Arsenal.
“I obviously want to get more minutes with the first-team. I know it’s going to be hard but I’m going to fight for it.”
Does this mean that Wenger has changed his mind about buying a new experienced centre-back?
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Hope this not true…because young(teenage)player tend to make mistake, naive and no experience to cope with well experience striker…Wenger you better think twice b4 retract back your words…Young player need an experience player as a pair in the midddle defence not two clumsy player defending the heart of defence.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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this just means he’ll be taking squidachi’s place on the bench
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Zafgooner. Are you saying that just because he is young you expect Miquel to make more mistakes than Squillaci? I would prefer that he was put in the squad as 5th choice behind Vermaelen Koscielny Djourou Vertonghen (hoping he comes in as a defensive mid, 3rd choice LB and 4th choice CB)
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Squillaci is old and therefore has a lot of experience right? he made a lot of mistakes.. so experience??? lets just hope that miquel adapt fast..
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i still believe that arsene will buy a centre back. but we should keep miquel or loan him until january.i think he can be of use to the squad as a defensive midfielder. he was schooled the barcelona way and having watched him in the f.a cup and the spain u 19s his composure on the ball is superb. this will give him 1st team experience at arsenal. And he can be a backup to song and frimpong. i have a feeling frimpong will go in january aswell to play in the ACN with ghana. he got a call up to their friendly with nigeria which was cancelled yesterday. and essien is out for 6 months so watch this space. this is where miquel will prove useful. the composure of a midfielder with the grit ofa young determined centre back. excellent
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I say we just buy an experienced Defender. Jagielka, or Samba and then let miquel go on loan to somewhere like blackburn or Wigan….
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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yeay! no more squidward on the bench. good on ya ignasi! dont be the next squid. we dont need one of those.
// sorry squidward.
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age is just a number, i still vividly remember what i saw last season when both Miguel and squillaci were on the pitch at the same time, it was actually young miguel telling old squillaci what to do on the pitch and his composure is nothing squillaci will ever dream of so quit asking for age, ask for class.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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he is a class act..only need TA6 spirit in him
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Despite what many fans believe Arsene is not stupid and will not go into the new season with a 19yo as his first choice CB. A new defender will be signed.
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I think wenger should buy samba and stop giving us headache on this again
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I always laugh when people say a young player lacks experience. It is a pretty obvious comment! How though,does a player get experience? It doesn’t simply happen with age,you need to be playing to get it. If a player is good enough,he is old enough.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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@Tony,spot on we thinks Miquel can be a good DM and CB. DM b/up when Song& Frimpong go to ACN. We really need someone like him espcially middle of the season and at that very crucial stage. For CB at this point, we preferred more mature hard tackling no nonsense quality CB in the heart of defence. Hope WEnger keep his words though.
P:s We now can sell Aboue Diaby.
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I would love to see Arsene brings more defenders to arsenal. It’s time to be ruthless. If we need to change the entire backline, we will change. Currently the defenders that are doing fine are just sagna and vermaelen.
I would love to see that German mertesacker come in, along with my prefered Christopher samba. With this two giants as CB, we would be fine with set pieces. Vermaelen will move into LB with Gibbs as backup. Tralee can be third choice LB or be sold. Sagna will remain as RB with jenkinson as backup. Szczensy will be GK.
Song as first choice DM with frimpong as backup. Ramsey, and wilshere to lead the line, with no creative midfielder backup except rosicky whom is going downhill. Forward line will be gervinho on the left, Walcott right and rvp in the centre. Miyaichi and arshavin as backup. Chamakh back up to rvp.
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is this even news? He just got a promotion to the first team which means that Wenger believes that in the event of an injury crisis/CC he will play this boy.
Wenger may have bought the wrong CB’s in the past but he has never made a teenager his first choice CB and neither will he considering he never played pre season for Arsenal.
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*yawn* same old.
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He has not changed is mind, this was the plan from day 1
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NO THIS CAN’T BE…his just not ready yet. we neeeeeeeeeeeeeeed a defender ASAP.
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This Wenger man is extremely weird in behaviour. He will just be sending scouts all over and signs no one in the End.His time should be up by now.
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I’ll no be surprise if Wenger do not buy and more defender with the inclusion of Manuel Ignisi. I think he is good and can improve when work on. Its okay. Gunner 4 life.
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