Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 18 June 2011 13:36

While negotiations are still ongoing behind the scenes, everything remains exactly the same in the forefront. Nothing finalised to show in the shop window and no players have any bags packed just yet. I suppose this is often the way on the weekend. I cannot remember the last time an Arsenal transfer was confirmed and shown on dot com during the weekend.

This hasn't stopped further rumours continuing in the press. Apparently Gael Clichy has interest from Roma who are willing to stump up the £8m that we are asking for. I think that kind of price is a bargain for a full back with so much top level experience.

If he is to leave Arsenal then I would hope that it would be abroad unless Manchester City can do what they are good for and give us £16m for a player with only one year on his contract. They have history of doing that before with the signing of Nigel de Jong for example.

So what of a replacement? Well the Times have the answer. Newcastle want away left back is apparently in our sights. Jose Enrique has Champions League aspirations and he is waiting to see if anyone in the CL is interested in his signature. I do not know much about him but I do know that he is very highly rated by the Newcastle supporters but the only games I have seen him play has been against us, and I don't really take too much notice of the opposition.

I really cannot imagine Arsenal playing over the course of the season without Gael Clichy, a hugely underrated player in my eyes but it looks more and more likely that he will not be around next season.

I am intrigued to know what attributes a new left back will have and what that will bring to the team.

Lille general manager Frederic Paquet has spoken of the Gervinho situation, explaining that talks are still ongoing and hopefully that something will be resolved next week. So how many 48 hours is that then?

Transfer negotiations are hardly ever straight forward and often take plenty of time for all the boxes to be ticked and while supporters generally lack patience, all we can do right now is wait.

One player I want to speak about is actually at the club believe it or not, I know that is not often the case during the off season but I have been thinking about our little Russian a few times over the last week.

Thinking about the rough patches he had last season and the exciting form he brought to Arsenal when he first came to the club a few years ago.

I have heard and read about his statistics plenty of times in recent months. One of the leading assist makers while contributing to his fair share of goals. I have to admit that much of his negatives have stuck with me over the course of the season and I would not have been too upset to see our number 23 replaced by another type of wide forward but it all came to me when I watched the Arsenal goals of the season. It struck me how often Arshavin was involved in the goals.

I almost take his ability for granted. He has immense technical quality and his goal at West Brom springs to mind. He can make a difference to games and even during a season when he showed some of his worst form for both club or country, he still provided moments of brilliance.

With Arshavin I think we are being sold short. Imagine Dennis Bergkamp did not take care of himself physically and relied only on his ability. We would have seen moments of his magic but nowhere near the amount of quality.

Now imagine if Arshavin was as driven and as mentally and physically focused as Dennis Bergkamp. He would certainly not have been sitting on the bench come the end of last season.

I hope Arsene Wenger managed to get through to Arshavin during the end of last season, and during these summer months he is working hard to get his body ready for the demands of the Premier League. He has been visibly out of shape and that is not correct for an Arsenal player or any top level player. Part of his job is to eat right and take care of his assets and for the last year that clearly has not been happening.

He is approaching the years where he should be reaching his peak. His reputation for his country has diminished and it is down to Arshavin and Arshavin only to get everyone back onside.

If he can show hunger and commitment then there is no reason why he cannot be at least on par with Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas next season. I certainly hope so.

Back tomorrow.

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Comments (21)

• 18-Jun-2011 14:03 | | Bala
  

  Good point about Gael Clichy. He is very much underrated and also been made a scapegoat a lot of times. If we are selling him , we should atleast look to get 10million for him because of his enormous experience in playing in the toughest league in the world. My concern is his replacement though. I haven't seen much of Enrique but one thing that's for sure is , its really tough to get a FB who can fit in straight away into the team without a fuss. I really hope Gael stays and if he goes, I wish Arsene does another Sagna and brings in a guy who can fit in straight away.

• 18-Jun-2011 14:10 | | MeanLean
  

  Have to agree with Bala there.
  
  Finding a full back who can slot into the Arsenal way is not as easy as people make out

• 18-Jun-2011 14:17 | | Sam
  

  I do think it is time for Clichy to go because he has not shown the same skill and quality since the Birmingham game a few years ago, but really 8million is about half the price of what I would sell him for because of all the experience he has. I think he needs a new challenge but it will be sad to see the last 'invincible' go.
  
  I totally agree about Arshavin he needs to get in shape and his work rate and he will be a quality player next season.

• 18-Jun-2011 14:21 | | CHGooner
  

  'finding a full back who can fit into the Arsenal way is not easy'. Hilarious! What do you mean, ML? Finding a full back who can't tackle or head the ball, is clueless at set pieces and is positionally hopeless? You are right that is a tough call....

• 18-Jun-2011 14:24 | | Wenger Boy
  

  If Arshavin focussed and played to the best of his ability then we're talking about one of the top 10 players in the world in my opinion.
  
  He has everything, when he cares to use it: passing, dribbling, vision, control, innovation, shooting and even commitment and tackling.
  
  One of the most naturally gifted players Arsenal has ever seen. Forget Nasri, he could honestly be our Messi if he was on fire.
  
  I honestly thought we would win the league because of him after his first half season.

• 18-Jun-2011 14:25 | | MeanLean
  

  Do you think all full backs perform the same role at every club? Is this 1985 where every team plays 4-4-2 and the full back does not cross the half way line.
  
  The game appears to have passed you by if you think that is the case. Full backs playing in our system are required to have plenty of attributes, plenty that your eye perhaps cannot see.

• 18-Jun-2011 14:26 | | jgdu7  - r
  

  

• 18-Jun-2011 14:29 | | Podge
  

  About Arshavin he was clearly out of shape last season he was slower looked for the ball very rarely and there were actually times I thought he had been subbed or sent off when I wasn't watching. Arshavin is a senior player in the squad he is 30 this year and should be playing his best football as he has not had an injury plagued career. I wonder what the younger players think when they see Arshavin and his someone else will do it attitude is that why the team slumped into that only RVP can score period. Arshavin has such quality if he had anywhere near the dedication of Bergkamp he could become an Arsenal legend I want him to get the chance to do just that but I know he wont. If he doesn't return for pre season in shape and willing to do the work needed to win then he should be shipped out as from my view he is a bad influence on the squad

• 18-Jun-2011 14:32 | | CHGooner
  

  Sorry ML in 'new football' you are correct, none of the things I mentioned matter any more do they? Has Arsene managed to get corners, long throws and free-kicks kicked out of the game at last? Great news, that goals against column will really improve. Football should be eternally grateful for our visionary genius from Alsace. Hooray!!

• 18-Jun-2011 15:04 | | MeanLean
  

  Whilst Clichy is not perfect and has made defensive errors, I can find you plenty of stats that suggest he tackles better than most and is the best at intercepting passes.
  
  He loses headers to bigger players and has been caught out of position. I am sure I could find a weakness for any player in the league.
  
  He is a very good player who is undervalued. Not perfect but to say he is shite or anything similar is plain wrong.
  
  In fact, I have just found this. Copy and paste into your browser and have a read.
  
  http://www.anfieldindex.com/2685/liverpool-fc-transfer-scouting-stats- left-backs.html

• 18-Jun-2011 15:07 | | RedSigmund
  

  Agree with CHGooner. Clichy has been a defensive disaster for the past couple of seasons: gives the ball away in dangerous situations, plays opponents onside & can't compete in the air. He has a great engine, but on attack his crossing is at best inconsistent! I'm sure we can do better.

• 18-Jun-2011 15:10 | | MeanLean
  

  Exactly. He is the most explosive player at Arsenal. I think it makes such a big difference to be physically at the peak of your powers when playing and even at 70% of what he should be he has still provided so much for the team.
  
  I hope he is focused and ready for the new season.

• 18-Jun-2011 15:11 | | MeanLean
  

  We might be able to do better and you can probably say that about many players. I agree that he has his faults but you cannot write off what he is good at.

• 18-Jun-2011 15:17 | | MeanLean
  

  CH Gooner,
  
  I am interested about your unhappiness over Gervinho. Who would you rather have at Arsenal, Downing or Gervinho?

• 18-Jun-2011 15:57 | | anto
  

  clichys weakness is clearly 1 on 1s. he stands off players far too much instead of bein aggressive.the last couple of seasons this seems to be the case and i am 1 of his biggest fans.he seems to invite people to run at him now were as before he would be gettin stuk into them

• 18-Jun-2011 15:58 | | Mike in the USA  - Clichy
  

  ML
  I think that Gael Clichy embodies all that is frustrating and needs to change about our players.
  Gael is athletic, quick, has an incredible ability to intercept BUT is a very good player from the top of our box to the top of their box.
  Clichy lacks concentration and positional sense in the defensive third.
  The biggest issue with Clichy is that Arsenal have 65% possession and so therefore his offensive game arguably becomes more important and his crossing ability is one of the worst in the league. It's not as if he can offer a goal threat either.
  Baines would offer far superior crossing ability. He scored more free kicks (bar Adam) than anyone else and we greatly lack in this area. Defensively he is improving too.
  Clichy is more eye catching and athletic but an ineffective attacker. 65% possession deserves significantly better than what Gael offers.
  Thoughts ML?

• 18-Jun-2011 15:59 | | goonerstan
  

  Am with ML on this one....clichy has taken a lot stick lately. Fans can't seem to forgive him for the slip up against Birmingham....I believe with a better defence line....he will do better. His stats speak for itself.....

• 18-Jun-2011 15:59 | | anto
  

  gervinho looks the part if you ask me

• 18-Jun-2011 16:18 | | CHGooner
  

  Neither ML. Bit like asking me to choose between halibut or salmon when what I want is meat. I want Cahill, I would love to get Given and Tevez as well. Gervinho is just irrelevant in the same way that Chamakh was/is.

• 18-Jun-2011 16:22 | | J dot A dot
  

  I believe Clichy is inconsistent. His pace has rescued him from many of his own lack of positional sense, but on the other hand he has been a good servant for Arsenal.I don't by the story of they have to leave to win trophies because we were in the position to do a double last year but the team folded so really and truly he and the rest of the Arsenal players should be looking at themselves.
  
  Arshavin - I believe the whole problem with him is, he is not a wide man. He should have played behind the striker this season and Wenger should have put Fabregas where Wilshire played, like he wants to be played.
  
  Wenger needs to stop converting players into positions they are not best at.
  As for Gervinho, seems like her will be a Marmite player but he cant be worse than Walcott Vela or Bendtner. Time will tell if he will be a good player for us

• 21-Jun-2011 13:10 | | cjor bah  - hi
  

  why can Wenger sing d sierra Leonanie striker who plays his football in Sweden he is a very good player i think he will fit with d arsenal system

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