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Written by Ahmed El Hawary on Monday, 18 July 2011 10:18
Ok, so less than a month to go until the start of the season and we still have no clue if we'll sign any new players or more importantly in my opinion, if Cesc & Nasri will be arsenal players come september. So yes its a bit worrying.
When we look at our transfer activity so far we've sold a left back, bought a young right back (??!!) we've lent Denilson back to Brazil (yaaay) bought a very good winger/striker. And hopefully we can sell (give away?) Almunia to anyone & loan or sell Bendtner (hopefully Diaby too).
No center back in sight, huh? well I dont think our defensive problems are that great.....really when you think about up untill our meltdown last season we had conceded less goals than man u!!! and that considering we conceded 3 goals at home to wigan, 5 goals home and away to newcastle & 3 goals home to the scum. So our problem is more of a concentration problem than bad defenders, and next season with no almunia & a one year older Szczesny, thats atleast 6 less goals we will concede. And if we have no injuries to atleast two of Tommy V, Kos & Djourou then thats 5 less goals conceded than last season.
I'm not saying we dont need a center back but if Wengers preferred CB partnership is two of the above mentioned then which experienced center back would want to come and sit on the bench as 3rd or 4th choice??? the answer is someone with Squilacci's quality!
What we absolutely need and what we've been needing for the past few years is a defensive mid that can rotate with Song and take over in january when song is at the african nations cup. I heard that Melo was left out of juventus' trip to the usa, which would indicate he might not be part of the new manager's plans for the coming season. He might be suspect of some irrational challenges, but thats exactly what we need & Wenger has shown interest in him before so I really feel that he would be a great addition to our squad.
Speaking of the ACN both chamakh and gervinho will not be available during january and early february, which might not be a problem if van persie isn't injured but we all know we cant take that risk and play with only Arshavin upfront as we did a couple of seasons ago. So we do need another striker (although he looks like a great player- not Joel campbell).
So if (hope) Nasri & Cesc do stay, then I think we would be ready for the new season if we buy a DM & a striker. Speaking of Nasri, Wenger has come under alot of criticism for keeping him & risking losing him on a free next season. People have been saying we shoud cash in & use the money to buy Mata or whoever.......when exactly did we ever do this??? If we do sell him, Wenger will either go get Alex Chamberlain (or whatever he's called) or not buy at all, the same as with the sales of Viera, Henry, Flamini & Adebayour. So the way I see it it's better if we have him for one more year & maybe he can help the team win some silverware & who knows maybe then he will sign a contract extension.
Of course if Cesc & Nasri do leave this season then I really think it would be extremely hard for us to compete next season so I really hope that "Arsene knows".....
Mean Lean's Response
I have to agree with you about center backs not being a massive problem, quite literally as well. As you said, until our melt down we had a defensive record at least equal to our rivals. There was a period with a few months to go where we had let in less goals than the Champions. This was all without arguably our best defender out on the treatment table. The argument that Squillaci is not good enough long term could well be a valid one but I see no reason why we should blow £20m of our budget on someone like Gary Cahill (including wages) when we have someone like Kyle Bartley who is very good in the air, powerful and is already adapted to the Arsenal way of playing. I would quite like to see Bartley battle with Squillaci for the fourth perhaps even third choice spot if he is up to it.
Many may disagree with me but I feel that our approach to teams when we haven't got the ball as well as our offensive game is much more important than buying a new center back.
As for the defensive midfield spot. I would like to see a quality, hard working, leader as part of the squad. I think there is room in the squad, in the middle of midfield for that type of player, someone to inspire the likes of Ramsey, Wilshere and hopefully Cesc. That said, it is clear that Emmanuel Frimpong has bags of potential and has the required on-pitch attitude to do well at Arsenal.
There is a long way to go in this transfer window, many other big clubs like Chelsea and even little clubs like Tottenham who are yet to do any real business.
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19-Jul-2011 17:20 | | yozzaNo of course we don't need any defenders,every pundit,ex player and most fans are wrong and you along with AW are quite correct!deluded....what difference does it make that at one stage we had shipped in as few as our rivals......is that not the reason why we do need defenders as when the going got tough at the business end of the season our defenders were NOT good enough!
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19-Jul-2011 17:33 | | MeanLean
Using ex players and pundits really doesn't strengthen your argument in my opinion but hey. Ok which defender would you like to see brought in? (Realistically)
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19-Jul-2011 17:38 | | bogzverm and kos can easily be the best CB partnership in the PL. FACT. Ans I stress the word partnership. Do you think that we can get an 'experienced' cb that will be happy being third choice. NO. In terms of aerial ability, Cahill may slightly edge out Kos (slightly as the stats do prove this) But Kos easily outshines Cahill on the ground, shit, he outshines almost everyone on the ground (again stats can prove this). If I were to choose a CB it would be Samba, since he (once again, stats) is probably the one of the best aerial defenders in the prem, and is better than Cahill on the ground. but still, would he want to be third choice, because the Verm-Kos partnership can very be a really strong one. Our problem is depth. After Djourou, there's no one (oh wait, Squillaci, oh wait nvm) So keeping Bartley wouldn't be bad at all, actually it would be awesome
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19-Jul-2011 17:39 | | GunnerPete - Are you Blind or just stupid?We dont need new defenders? The simple fact is that its not the quanity of goals you ship its when they go in and how they go in. Suffice to say that if Bouldy & Adams +Keowne have all sad our defending is criminal, and I agree then it is not good enough. Simple test is that we all know that Amunia, Squillacci & Kossy gave away 12 points by just sheer stupi mistakes. That 12 points would have won us a title last year. Before that our defence has been laughable for 4 years and had cost us trophies. I tell you this right now, and you should log it in your records, AFC will win nothing until we have another giant defender ( Samba, Hangerland, Chiellini) to cut out free kicks and corners. Add Bartley, now and give away Squillaci,Almunia and we stand a chance..!!!
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19-Jul-2011 17:40 | | MeanLeanI do get the sense Andy that Melo is part of the Samba, Cahill, Mertesaker (sp) group. Names that just get recycled because they are out there. I might be wrong but that's how it feels
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19-Jul-2011 17:41 | | bogzActually I say let Bartley play in preseason as well as Carling cup in the beginning of the season to see if he's up to the PL since there is a huge gulf in class between our league and the SPL, if he does well (which he can) then I would'nt have a problem at the back. Though a LB (a real one, not Verm) would be nice though...
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19-Jul-2011 17:49 | | bogzHAGELAND (not Hangerland) is too slow and with our high line, he will be abused. if you wanted a defender like Hageland, then we honestly should've kept Senderos since he is basically the same package, only an inch or two shorter. Chiellini bleeds Juventus, and though he would be a great addition, he wouldn't leave an easy starting berth, plus potential captaincy at Juve for rotating between him, Verm and Kos. And Samba, same deal though he may be fine with the rotation. A Sagna-Samba-Kos-Verm (if we don't get a LB, I don't trust Gibbs nor Traore for injuries and positional sense, especially Traore in this regard) would be a good line though.
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19-Jul-2011 17:56 | | MeanLeanI find it strange how someone can call you stupid and then suggest we play a slow lump in such a high line. Please be respectful.
I understand about the set piece issue, you have a good point but defending set pieces is not down to two defenders. Our marking and organisation has let us down and that must be corrected.
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19-Jul-2011 17:57 | | MeanLeanAgree with most of what you say Bogz, but Verm at left back would be a no no for me, especially long term
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19-Jul-2011 18:00 | | IndiGooner - Great minds think alikeSuper. We look good for the season.. Hopefully we sign some covers (In Defence and Striking options) though only for rotation and keeping in mind our Injuries..
I am sure all young guns like Fringpong, Rambo, Bartley, Gibbs, Ryo and Vela get oppurtunities and realise potentials. Though i am disappointed that B52 could not convert chances last season, i hope he comes back with vengence.
In Wenger We Trust.
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19-Jul-2011 18:45 | | Mr H
I will keep saying this, Gary Medel AKA the Pitbull is perfect for Arsenal. I WISH he would join us. He's a nut job CDM with passion, balls and grit... True Grit.
'Yer gawt true grit Misser'
Defence is more than just two CBs. Barca have proved this. Defence is as team sport, especially at set pieces.
Failing Medel, Arturo Vidal, at Leverkusen with his contract coming to an end is also perfect. He already plays the Arsenal way and is also able to get forward and put one or two in the net.
VCC
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19-Jul-2011 23:22 | | podge"Foreign signings need a bedding in period, time to adjust to English football you should really only judge them after their second season". That phrase has been used by every pundit,manager,coach,chairman,player and fan of the Premiership on countless occasions. Why have Koscielny and Squillaci been judged after 1 season sorry that's not true they were deemed not up to it before they had even played. We are so harsh on our own players. Squllaci has been a quality defender for over a decade he had a lot of bad moments last season but surely he deserves the benefit of the "bedding in" excuse? Koscielny showed great promise in his first season but also that he wasn't ready so far in pre season he has looked focused. I thought before the pre season games that Djourou and Vermalean would be first choice no I think it may be Kos-Verm they work well together oddly considering they are both aggressive win the ball types.
I've said it a thousand times by now but our set piece weakness is down to coaching regardless of who's fault it is it just needs to be improved NO EXCUSES everybody has their man to mark and doesn't let him go I'd rather give away a penalty than watch an unmarked opponent score from a set piece. That goal conceded in China needs to be a wake up call for the coaching staff and fans height is not the issue preparation is. Identify the threats and deal with them
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