Written by Mean Lean on Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:54
It is a very quiet day in Arsenal land today. The tumble weed has almost taken my head off several times already this afternoon as I struggle to think of anything worth writing about.
I get the feeling that the journalists are thinking along the same lines as myself and evidence of that is the rehashed stories of Phillip Jagielka from Everton. Do you think they were tipped off, or got a heads up from someone in the know at the club?
Nah, a quick flick back through previous made up stories and bingo, Arsenal want to sign Jagielka.
I suppose we are likely to have more fabricated stories than most other clubs because we tend to keep our business in-house and not open to the media and as we know, they need content so if they don't get what they need then they simply make it up.
One story that appears to have some element of truth is the Chris Samba story. Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean has spoken of his desire to keep the defender at the club and that he has no need to sell his captain. Well Samba has spoken to the French press and he hopes that his current club will not stand in his way if a big club wants to obtain his signature.
I think Blackburn are probably resigned to losing Samba but as with everyone, they will want the largest possible fee for him. If they are dealing with Arsenal then they should know that the largest possible fee will not be coming their way, what they will get is what we think the player is worth and not what the current market say he is worth. I think that is the correct way to approach buying players.
A £12 million price tag has been flying around the place in recent weeks, apparently that is the fee that Blackburn would accept and if you look at the likes of Henderson and Phil Jones you would be forgiven for thinking that is a fair price but when you consider the fact that at 27 years of age and that he has hardly any top European experience and could very possibly be fourth choice then that price all of a sudden feels very top heavy.
If we do end up signing him then I would really be surprised if he was first choice. I just cannot see that being the case. It seems trendy to have Samba starting with Vermaelen as our new left back. That seems to have been spoken about quite often on twitter and various blog comments. I just do not see that happening at all for several different reasons. Time will tell.
There were rumours of a £10 million bid from PSG for Gael Clichy but apparently he does not want to go back to France, he wants to play for Liverpool. I do not know where this has come from because I haven't heard any quotes from Clichy but it did come from the trusty Daily Mail, so why would I have any doubts about it? I just wouldn't.
If Clichy does up sticks then I really hope it is abroad and not for another club in the Premier League. If you have not read the article comparing other top left backs then I suggest you do. His defensive statistics are difficult to argue against.
That article also compares the statistics of Newcastle left back Jose Enrique who will be apparently available for £6 million. I cannot remember where I read that, I cannot seem to find the article on newsnow.
Lastly the agent of Carlos Vela has said that Arsenal will not sell the Mexican forward this summer. According to Vela's agent he and Arsenal have had eight conversations about his future and Wenger wants Vela to stay at Arsenal.
Clearly Carlos has not developed as fast as we would have liked and I am sure the manager would say the same but I cannot help but believe that there is plenty more to come from Vela. He hasn't had a run of games to prove his quality but at the same time you wonder why he hasn't been given those games, especially at West Brom.
With attributes such as pace, good technique and finishing, you would expect Vela to have proven himself. I have an image in my mind of a more developed Vela jinking past defenders and slotting past the opposition keeper. Currently I am not sure if he suits the wide forward position although he has the pace for it and I am not sure if he is physically ready for the central position but that is the position I can imagine him being a success in.
If he doesn't leave Arsenal this summer then you would have to say that it could be last chance saloon for him. Fingers crossed he can fulfil his potential.
Back tomorrow
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