Former Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith is said to have revealed that Man City’s James Milner is set to move to the Emirates this summer.
The midfielder is out of contract next month and is highly expected to leave on a free transfer, despite his club keen on securing his services beyond his current deal. Liverpool had been believed to be leading the chase, but during last night’s home match against Swansea City, Smith claimed Milner would be moving to the Emirates for the next campaign.
The 29 year-old is highly versatile, having played at full-back, in every possible midfield position, as well as up front in his time at the Etihad. Milner himself is believed to be keen on a more central role, with first-team football a must in order to complete his signature.
The England international could be set for a role alongside Francis Coquelin in the midfield berth, although Santi Cazorla has been instrumental in all things positive this year.
The competition for the more advanced midfield roles is also strong, but I can picture Coquelin and Milner sharing a role alongside the impressive Spaniard, but would that be enough for the Man City man?
I’m not sure we can offer the Liverpool target as much regular action as he is hoping for, but we could prove tempting with the opportunity to continue playing Champions League football.
The Anfield club seemingly gave up on qualifying for a top-four finish by settling for a point away to newly-crowned Premier League champions Chelsea at the weekend, and could miss out on a host of their targets due to their failings.
Milner’s quality has rarely come under scrutiny, but can you picture him in an Arsenal shirt? Would he make your starting XI? What position would he play for us?
Would be crazy if we signed Milner over Scheiderlin. I don’t know if he will play much more games for us than he does for City now to be fair.
are u nuts?! mil to the ner?
j to the izzo, m to izzay?
listen his slide tackle, has its own slide tackle.
if hes free – i say take him (in a non kidnap way)
but obv we need organ sniperman more
Lateral transfer if ever there was one. Can’t see the sense in his arrival, not better than what we have.
who?
am?
i?
WHOAMI????!!
Don’t worry about millner what’s the rumour about Arsenal and Pogba.PLEASE say it’s true. and not the usual cobblers. I’m going to get my prayer mat out.
Wenger is interested but the prize is too high
As usul, anything higher than five bob is too much. at any rate none of these will happen as wenger has already said he’s more interested in keeping the team he has together.
Pogba Really does ANYOE think this wil happen?????? and this takes the onus away from what we really really need and that’s the 25 goal a season great big animal smash the goals in against run of play, turn a game around STRIKER!!!!!
English Messi. With him we will the Epl and the Cl.
WIN*
What are they smoking at the emirates? James milner over schneiderlin and kondogbia? Someone has lost their mind!
let spend some money and sign Kondabagia instead
hahahaha- kondabagia!! remixxxx
reload- dj pull that up !
lool,hafiz,you never cease to amaze me,kondagagbia,lmao
Sorry but rumour or no rumour, not interested! Schneiderlin or kondogbia please!
bloody mad max adverts…go away.
no way is this gonna live up to the original
ad-blocker dude. if you use google chrome it’s a free add-on. clears away all advertisements
how are we going to challenge for the title when we are signing players that are not good enough or inexperience?????
time for a change
Wenger out!!
There’s a rumour linking us with a player Hafiz doesn’t like!!? Pack up your desk Wenger, it’s over.
Positives.
Cheap. English.
Exp ECL + EPL
Cover for Arsenal’s constant
10 payer injury list.
2 more seasons minimum.
Negatives.
May STOP us getting another DM :(:(:(
Club already has 10 1st team players
and 6 youngsters who can’t get game time
Conclusion.
May be just a transfer rumour to confuse the
market and lower prices of real targets.
Not a statement of ambition.
A statement of mediocrity.
But Wenger has been swayed by the “FREE” tag before.
Flamini Sanogo Chamakh Campbell are recent examples.
Lets hope NOT.
De Gea will be up for Free end of next season….
Pogba was free but he did not sign him……
David your comments have been a lot more constructive in recent times which i’ve genuinely been enjoying. But one thing which strikes me the most is you only seem to only evaluate the team based on the 11 players who start and don’t seem to grasp the bigger picture.
Now we have an extremely talented youthful midfield, with Wilshere, Ramsey, Coquelin and Oxlade we have three of the brightest young midfielders in the league. Not to mention Zelalem, Crowley, Gnabry and Bielik in the youth team.
I think you drastically under-estimate the need for experienced heads and role models in the team. Rosicky, Arteta, Flamini and Cazorla are left as the only real role models, and IMO Flamini and Rosicky will be on their way out which only really leaves us with only two.
Milner is constantly regarded as one of the hardest working players in English football, and his performances for City have consistently been great, the fact that he is the first sub off the bench they ever turn to when in trouble to me, speaks volumes.
In terms of ambition, no it is not a massive sign of intent, no it’s not the signing which will strike fear into our opponents. But having him in the squad would constantly push Wilshere and Ramsey to be at their best if they want to start and IMO would elevate the squad.
I agree Josh, Milner
has many top qualities.
BUT….
Arsenal has a 31 man squad
so we are over loaded already.
After the starting X1 v Swansea we have
Szcz Martinez Debuchi Mertz Hayden Chambers Gibbs
Areta Flamini Diaby Wilshere Podolski Campbell
Zelalem Walcott Gnabry Chamberlain Ryo Wellbeck
20 players struggling for game time.
Find a viable place for him I would be happy with that
Granted, big squad but i feel a lot of the players you’ve mentioned will IMO be either loaned, sold or still be developing in our youth set-up.
Realistically Milner would be competing/covering with:
Coquelin, Arteta, Cazorla, Ramsey, Wilshere, Chamberlain, Sanchez and Theo for either the wide roles or deeper roles.
Considering a lot of those players recent injury records, he could find himself a lot closer to the first XI than first glance would suggest.
Really think we should be getting Dybala to be honest, would prevent Ramsey from playing RW as he can play both as a winger and striker. We would be a lot more balanced with him and Sanchez on either wing. Give Welbeck more time in the middle, I think he shows more promise there than Walcott… Add Schneiderlin or Kondogbia and maybe a GK if Shez leaves and even a CB as Per and the Boss ain’t getting any younger.
Hardly a suprise we’re in for him, versatile and available for Wengers favourite price – £0.
Podolski OUT Milner IN , flamini and arteta OUT schneiderlein IN , sanogo OUT new striker IN job done
AGREED but WONT HAPPEN I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT. ARTETA WONT BE GOING ANYWHERE SANOGO WILL DO ANOTHER LOAN (AS WENGER CANT BACK DOWN ON HIS ORIGINAL APRAISAL AND AS WENGER THINKS LE COQ IS THE FINISHED ARTICLE HE WONT SPEND TO BOLSTER THIS POSITION.
I’m fine with getting Milner as long as we also get Schneiderlin or Kondogbia and release Flamini and Diaby (if he gets injured again)
However, if we get Milner instead of Schneiderlin or top DM, I won’t be impressed
Milner buy all depends on new homegrown rules. I am sure the FA is talking to premier league and clubs. If we need more homegrown and also the definition of homegrown changes than Milner comes into the picture. All talks of foreign players will disappear and we can expect a scramble for English & Welsh talent.
Arsenal current homegrown include: Sczceny, Wilshere, Ox, Walcott, Coquelin, Welbeck, Ramsey, Gibbs, Martinez – which is 9.
Under new homegrown rules we would only have Wilshere, Ox, Walcott, Coquelin, Welbeck, Ramsey, Gibbs – which is 6 combined with a squad of 14 non HG will leave us with a squad of 20 players of over 21.
Some of our youth can be Homegrown under new rules when they turn 21: Chambers, Hayden, Akpom, Crowley, Maitland Niles.
I am wrong here Coquelin would also loose his Home Grown Status so leaves us with a squad of only 19 senior players.
There are much better players than Milner available for free
Who can play central Milner would be a downgrade on the right and cm were he hasn’t played well source whoscored.com
Useful free agents
St:Gignac(similar to giroud)
Fwd:ayew(similar style to Sanchez)
Dm/cm mavuba, de Jong,(great competitive challenge for coqulan)
Dm/cb toulalan(still a starter for France, vastly experience, good season,techniqually and tactically sound,would allow chambers to be loaned)