Written by Stuart Mckay on Wednesday, 31 August 2011 21:39

Here's my take on our summer transfer in's and out's and how we now stand. I've read a lot of mixed reactions from Gooners and it was therapeautic to get my thoughts down in black and white.

First up, we replaced Nasri with Gervinhio and he already looks like he'll stop with the tippy tappy and smoke past players to set up chances, plus HE WANTS TO BE HERE AND FIGHT (;-) 18 goals and 10 assists last year... FROM THE WING!!!

Wilshere will take over the Fabregas role of primary creator

Arteta will take over the Wilshere box to box link role

We've signed the best CB available, 6'6" captain of his team and defensive mainstay in a German national team that is ranked 3rd in the World

Park looks to be an upgrade on Chamakh and Bentdner up top. Used to 4-3-3, scored 12 goals in a crap team that never attacked. Captain of his national team

Current starting LB for the Brazil national team, for sure better end product than Clichy. Maybe not as good defending as going forwards but it's not as if defending was Clichy's strong point.

Eboue replaced by Benayoun..... er no brainer. Quality at Liverpool and considered a good signing by Chelsea 12 months ago but had an injury hit season before that averaged 30+ games and roughly 10 goals per season. Captain of his country

Out- Denlison, probably the laziest player in our history

Out- Bentdner, probably better than Chamakh but still not as good as he thinks he is. A season up north starting regularly will do him good

Out- Eboue, liked the guy but bob average

Unlikely to be ever seen again in an Arsenal shirt- Almunia and Squillaci- good riddence

In- Myachi one of the best players in the Eredivisie, lauded by the Dutch media- 3 goals and 5 assists in 12 games

In- Joel Campbell, Best young player in Costa Rica, already a starter for the senior side at just 19. Played in 3 international tournaments in 2011. Top Scorer CONCAF U20, already 2 senior international goals for Costa Rica (How he didn't get a special talent visa only Fergie knows!)

In- Jenkinson, already shown he's a decent back-up for Sagna and better than Eboue defensively. Lifelong Gooner will fight for the shirt

In- Oxlade Chamberlain, supposed to be as a better prospect than Theo.... one for the future maybe has only slightly less pace than Walcott but more trickery and better delivery. In the Lg 1 team of the season at 18y/o.

We've got rid of the sh*t players that don't care and that everyone hates. We've given Wilshere more creative resposibility. We've bought a replacement for Na$ri who's more direct. We've signed a 6'6" experienced international centre back, 2 seasoned PL performers, the current Brazil LB, a better back up striker than Bentdner and Chamakh.

It looks like as a team we're filling our team with pace, we'll be more direct and attack from the wings and show less of the tippy tappy sh*t that everyone hates..... And some people are still complaining? Jheez!!

Granted we didn't sign one marque CMF and we're relying on Jack but who else would you have had over Arteta....? There can't be many. Don't get me wrong i would have loved to have seen Hazard but he plays on the flanks and isn't exactly known for his ability to dictate play in the centre of the park. He is incredibly skillful but Gervinhio was more productive for Lille, plus they were not going to sell for less than £40M which is more than what we spent on all 5 of our shiny new players

M'Villa and Gotze 2 more good players by all accounts and a club record £25m bid submitted but rejected tells you that surprise surprise teams don't want to sell their best players, just like us last year with Cesc.

I'd say this starting 11 is at least on a par with last years, maybe better!

Szczesny

Sagna Mertersaker Vermaelen Santos

Song

Arteta Wilshere

Walcott RVP Gervinhio

with a bench of Kosielney, Gibbs, Ramsey, Benayoun, Park, Arshavin, Frimpong which doesn't include, Diaby, Djorou, Chamakh, Jenkinson, Chamberlain, Myachi

Don't forget Benayoun is a short term option so it wouldn't be unrealistic to see an arrival in January of a further upgrade. Perhaps we'll be able to have a run at some of those big names again if they're already out of the ECL and closer to the end of the contracts....

In the wake of the aberration that was Sundays result this is a pretty damn good outcome and I for one am excited to see this Arsenal team play.

Mean Lean's Response

Thank you Stuart, I really enjoyed that and agree with plenty of what you say. I can feel the excitement in your writing and that is exactly how I am feeling right now.

In my eyes, the squad looks a great deal stronger and far deeper than it was. The only real weakness is that of Cesc Fabregas. An obvious hole of quality missing but the strength in depth can cover his absence in other ways. I also see Jack Wilshere as the man to properly replace Cesc and Arteta to be the link between Song and Jack.

I don't think we will play the same way with that creative player looking to thread through the eye of the needle. Which made us pass the ball outside the opposition box until that chance came available. I think our game will be based more on quicker, direct bursts with dribblers like Wilshere, Gervinho, Santos and Benayoun exchanging passes and zooming into the box instead of only using the pass.

I love the fact that we have brought in experienced players who have all been captains of their sides at some point and that is no accident. Our work in the market has brought the type of blend that we have been after for some time.

Before our signings and after the 8-2 defeat, I put some money on us winning the league at 50/1 while it could be a big ask still, things certainly look much brighter than a week ago.

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Comments (29)

• 01-Sep-2011 16:07 | | GunnerX
  

  In strange way, our squad now looks stronger even though there are no real stand-out players. It will be interesting to see how the team is mixed and blended in terms of youth and experience. I've a sneaky feeling this team might present as more resolute and more direct in terms of attack. The one area where I think we might struggle is the Cf, especially if Rvp gets his annual injury. Nevertheless, I'm excited to see how the season pans out.

• 01-Sep-2011 16:11 | | Sidthegooner
  

  Hear hear my fellow gooners...HAPPY DAYS indeed.
  
  I always wanted wenger to carry on with his project, as i am sure he knows what he's doing and will produce a team that will dominate for years...of that i was sure but i feared he was ruining this master plan by not bleding experience with youth and not tending to immediate issues. now, i can safely say that i have no complaints and the great professor can carry on with his youth development to his heart's content. We now have a giant of a defender, a left back (yes a left back) and an array of creative, mature and talented forwards...not to mention experienced PL peformers.
  
  I haven't felt this good about MY ARSENAL for a long time....at last we have real hope and i am confident we will have a successful season, winning the league or not.
  
  ARSENAL TILL I DIE and A BIG THANK YOU TO MR WENGER for pulling this out.

• 01-Sep-2011 16:11 | | Gooner 19  - Replacing Cesc
  

  Am I the only one who thought we had become too one-dimensional with Cesc in the team?
  
  In my view, our tactics became "give it to Cesc and hope he works a miracle", so I wasnt surprised that often in the games he missed we looked more of a 'concerted threat'.
  
  I think (hope?) Wenger is moving us back to the Invincible days of threats from all areas and (counter) attacking at pace; too often in recent years we have slowed things down looking for the 'perfect pass'.

• 01-Sep-2011 16:15 | | Bazhead14
  

  I agree wholeheartedly with u ML, I believe with these additions our odds should be looking better now, i have been telling a couple of my friends who are fellow Gunners n who support other team...Write off 'THE ARSENAL' @ ur own peril....COYG

• 01-Sep-2011 16:23 | | Tom
  

  I'm pleased with our late flurry in the transfer window. Hopefully we'll be just as active in future windows.
  
  Over the last 5 years we've relied too heavily on inexeperience, youth and players who were simply not good enough to begin with.
  
  It's going to take some time to rebuild, but this window was the first tentative step. How we perform in January and next summer will decide the direction we're heading IMO.

• 01-Sep-2011 16:26 | | Gunner07  - Replacing Cesc
  

  I totally agree with the view that building the play all around Cesc slowed down our attacks. You just need to look at the number of one-on-ones we had in recent years compared to the Invincibles. Pace is so important in the EPL. If you look at the Man U team last year, they did not have a standout playmaker but they were direct & attacked with pace. With the new signings, we may now have a better chance of scoring a Henry vs Spurs type of goal!

• 01-Sep-2011 16:44 | | bakrima  - Better Options
  

  Still the criteria for the members of the board is how cheap is the player not how good is the player. outstanding players were linked with Arsenal but because the prices were more than £20 million we declined to sign them despite of the fact that the money was there.

• 01-Sep-2011 16:52 | | Gooner 87
  

  I gotta say im impressed with the signings and the new look arsenal. Were actually blending youth with experience now as opposed to youth with drabs of experience. Well done wenger, everyone was on your back and you responded with calculated and efficient dealings in the market. These players are what we needed, although santos and park are unknown quantities im still excited on finding out how they play and of course how arteta, benayoun fit in. Mertesacker is a towering beast and i hope he slots in effortlessly. Lets not get carried away, but lets enjoy it now, we've got an excting new team brimming with talent! come on you gunners!!!!!

• 01-Sep-2011 16:55 | | J
  

  @bakrima what is your source? Because, apparently, we bid £35 million for Goetze and £22 million for M'villa. Both were turned down. So don't come over here to spew drivel.

• 01-Sep-2011 17:09 | | TrueGooner  - I am Happy Very Happy and I dont care what who thi
  

  I am very happy and don't care what who thinks. I am positive that next summer we will see some young and talented additions if not January. These signing was all about having experience around wilshere and Ramsey them. I have the feelings if we do sign a name striker it will be only one, but I have the feeling we won't anytime soon, because when the likes of Campbell, and Wellington back and maybe one or two strikers from the reserves who will break through we will be loaded. Plus who knows Theo might be really deadly in a year or two. I am happy with the experience in mids and defense. Miquel, Kos, Jenkinson and hopefully jourou now has someone to guide them. I am happy a very happy gunners, and God willing I will be in my boxers cheering the the gunners on... Hope those who attend the games Home and away keep singing on like they did at United. This needs to carry on and not stop. Gunners till I die no other club will do. Gunners for life. We are Super Gunners, Super Arsenal FC, We'll play the world over, And champions we'll be!!

• 01-Sep-2011 17:15 | | TrueGooner  - We still attract players
  

  Arsenal failed in their attempts to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze for £35m on transfer deadline day.
  We also ask for Lucho Gonzalez...
  All in all the club tried and ended up with who they could get. They couldn't get what the went in for at first, but had to come out with something rather then empty handed. I think they learned and will go in earlier.
  We still attract players contrary to some belief

• 01-Sep-2011 17:29 | | Northbanksy
  

  A much better balanced squad now..We've even got genuine left sided players with pace. Pleased about Arteta as Wilshere & Ramsey will only get better by example. Likewise Kos & Djourou will learn from Mertesackers. Pleased also that the last 2 years of first team complacency might be over as there's competition for places. Could have done with a stand out, proven striker, but there arn't that many around so taking a punt on Park is the only option.

• 01-Sep-2011 17:59 | | Bermy Boy
  

  If we had made these signings last year we would have definitely won something... Also if we made these signings at the beginning of the window Nasri & Cesc may have wanted to stay, because they would've seen a team that had real potential to win something... I am happy with the signings, however i think that we should've bought in at least one massive player like Hazard or Sneider... that would've made a gigantic statement of ambition and also it would be a closer like for like player with Cesc leaving... Also does the board ever consider how massive signing a BIG player would be for the club in terms of revenue? The shirt sales alone would bring in a ton of money. The stadium would be sold out all the time. Our TV ratings would go higher because even non Arsenal fans would want to watch a massive player play.... I don't see how the board can't see this! But all in all i feel a hell of a lot better than i did before last Sunday! Gunners all day!!!

• 01-Sep-2011 18:07 | | SteveO
  

  Finally a piece I completely agree with and one that states gervinho is the replacement for nasri not yossi or arteta the stupid pundits have all decided upon.
  Also these signings take the pressure off Ramsey wilshire AOC etc and will allow them to develop.
  And does anyone else think nikky b loan move could be a masterstroke. He's got all the talent but needs a run of games and he'll defo get 15+ goals up north and even if we don't want him back his price will rocket.

• 01-Sep-2011 18:09 | | Nzekwe Asugha  - Great Move By Wenger
  

  I am relatively happy with the guys that came in. It is a relief at least,and a lesson to Wenger that he should mix experience with youth. I know we kicked off on a bad start, however, we shall surely get into the top four bracket. Wenger should step up next summer and get his targets. Long live Arsenal.

• 01-Sep-2011 18:14 | | kev11
  

  Not the question of attracting players. We refused to sell cesc for a few years to barca so similarly Dortmund and Rennes didn't want to sell their best players this time around. Second, even if they agreed to sell them there just wasn't sufficient time for the clubs to find replacements. Maybe next year we'll get Goetze if Dortmund don't qualify for UCL. They have already sold Sahin and losing two of their most impressive players in the same season would be very hard to take. M'Villa may also come but i think the time has passed for us to buy him. Lets focus on who we've got and i'm very happy with our current squad where everyone is committed to play for the badge. go gunners.

• 01-Sep-2011 18:29 | | Man United Killa  - nice post but...
  

  Generally I like your article but I have to disagree with some points as follows:
  Wilshere to take Cesc place as a primary creator?Are you on dope? (no offence meant)..Wilshere cant even wipe his own ass.This kid is too young to carry a burden like that.He will be world class (no doubt) but give him time.This kind of unnecessary hype ruins players.Apart from the fact that wilshere has talent,he needs to put his discipline in check.
  And almost everyone on here knows that I will be the first to get rid of Denilson but the one thing he was NOT is LAZY..he was just not Arsenal quality.I wonder what Diaby will be in your books if you consider Denilson lazy.
  I like the new look of the team.Wenger has to strengthen in January.We will have a realistic shot at a trophy if we constantly mix experience with great young talent.

• 01-Sep-2011 18:42 | | IndiGooner  - Not a bad move
  

  Well done Arsene, We have got some good players who will play well for the club. We have more depth in the squad and experience will only help youngsters.
  I hope we add more depth to the squad this winter as we will see AA23, TR7 and few others leaving.
  I also hope that B52/Lansbury and Vela do well and come back Arsenal as a better and more matured player.
  Newbees like AOC/Ryo/Fringpong/ConorHendreson/CarlJenkinson will learn a lot from Players like Arteta/Benayoum/AA23/TR7.
  
  I also hope Diaby/Gibbs and RVP remain relatively injury free.
  
  I hate to say but somehow Cese not being there make me nostalgic. http://www.youtube.com/user/verokiss14#p/u/2/c-UY461DXys

• 01-Sep-2011 18:48 | | TrueGooner
  

  Those so called experts at the daily mail are calling us losers in the window with out actually saying why. They have already written our signing of and claims that we will be stagnet at best. And why out of a suddenly Cleverly has been this good player. What have he done. Is it because they beat a weak striker-less Spurs and a depleted Arsenal.

• 01-Sep-2011 18:51 | | Nzekwe Asugha  - Great Move By Wenger
  

  I am relatively happy with the guys that came in. It is a relief at least,and a lesson to Wenger that he should mix experience with youth. I know we kicked off on a bad start, however, we shall surely get into the top four bracket. Wenger should step up next summer and get his targets. Long live Arsenal.

• 01-Sep-2011 19:23 | | Mykle  - Tomas Rosicky
  

  You forgot Tomas Rosicky is better player than Diaby!! But that will do for this season. The pressure will be on the other 4 so we will play better I hope.

• 01-Sep-2011 19:28 | | Stuart McKay  - Agree to disagree
  

  I'm not saying for a second that Wilshere is at the level of Fabregas simply that i believe this is the position he will now occupy. I think he's well suited to that position anyway. Using his ability to skip past a player and create space. No doubt the whole team will now rely less on Fabregas's ability to slide a pass through a packed defense. As i said i think we'll see less tippy tappy and more direct play, with significantly more of our creativity coming from the wings. I certainly think we'll be less predictable and harder to defend against.
  
  Another nice side affect will be a meaner tougher CMF trio, both Jack and Arteta like to put their foot in and don't mind a scrap.
  
  I'm afraid Denilson was lazy AND crap! haha, I lost count of the amount of times i saw him jogging back after another misplaced sideways pass. Watching the referee sprint past him in midfield while ManUre went on to score a goal still pisses me off to this day.
  
  I don't think Diaby is lazy, i think he's quite talented, i think his problem is he's not that bright! Great ability but consistently chooses the wrong options.
  
  Difference is Diaby has actually had some great games for us and people can actually see talent buried in there somewhere, with Denilson I think most people never really got what Wenger saw in him.

• 01-Sep-2011 19:31 | | Stuart McKay  - Good point!!
  

  He looks reborn and should be a great squad player this year. Performance against Udinese was immense!

• 01-Sep-2011 20:32 | | Man United Killa
  

  You had me laughing with your reiteration about Denilson's laziness and then my mind went back to a timea when he lost the ball and peacefully jogged back to the Arsenal post,held his waist and shook his head whiles the ball strolled into the net.. At least he is ambitious.He made mention of wanting to leave Arsenal to win trophies.
  And correct me if I am wrong doesnt Denilson have more Arsenal goals than Diaby..there were 2 seasons when Denilson banged in at least 8 long shots- well plus other goals.
  Diaby is skillful no doubt..but I am looking forward to his departure some time in the future (soon).He is slow and tends to hold on to the ball more than necessary-then loses it.
  Anyways, now I am just looking forward to our first game with our new signings

• 02-Sep-2011 07:05 | | waterboy
  

  Really interesting and positive article. Whilst i agree with you that Arsenal will most probably retain the 4213 formation they played in last season, with the players you've identified playing in the roles you've highlighted, i would prefer to see Arsenal play with three central attacking midfielders (Wilshere, Arteta, Youssi) and one dm (Song) in midfield and two central strikers (VP and Gervinho). I think this adjustment would still play to our strenght (passing), but also share the creative responsibility and provide us with two targets in the box (as opposed to just VP). Ultimately i prefer a 442 formation (like Arsenal use to play in the Vieira days) but we simply dont have the players in the squad with the physical attributes or defensive inclination (eg Vieira, Petit, etc) to play in that formation. Interested to hear your thoughts?

• 02-Sep-2011 10:42 | | Stuart McKay  - 442....
  

  I think that would take all pace out of our game! It would strengthen us defensively for sure but on the face of it with no one on the wing capable of taking players out of the game we'll see even more tippy tappy but much less end result because the players attempting those through balls aren't..... well they aren't Fabregas. With the personnel we have i think we have to hope our defense has improved enough to cope and offensively we shift our focus to the wings and try and stop deep lying 2 banks of 4 being such an effective ploy against us.

• 03-Sep-2011 16:26 | | Domhuaille  - A new approach?
  

  Based on what I am reading and have seen Wenger do in the past, my guess is that over the next 3-4 games, he will experiment with various midfield combinations until Wilshere is back to full fitness. He has a bit of a dilemma in that he has Ryo Miyachi, Walcott, Gervinho, Arshavin, RVP and Park available after the next game (Gervinho is still suspended) and Arteta, Benayoun, Wilshere, Rosicky, and Ramsey, are available to play as well. He hasn't had this embarrassment of riches since the Invincibles era so his ultimate starting 11 will be decided by sometime this month, unless injuries or more suspensions intervene. Here is what I see as an ideal lineup:
  
  Goal: Szcesny
  Back 4: Sagna Mertesacker Vermaelen Santos
  Defensive midfield: Song,
  Midfield: Arteta, Wilshere
  Wings: Walcott, Gervinho
  Striker: RVP
  Subs: Park, Gibbs, Arshavin, Koscielny, Frimpong, Fabianski
  
  Hopefully this will work but if it doesn't, he has many attractive alternatives and has added enough quality new faces to be able to field a strong team regardless. I also have a feeling that Arsahvin and Chamakh will step up their games and find better options on the field when playing with Arteta,Gervinho and Park. Here is my alternate worse-case 11:
  
  Goal: Fabianski
  Back 4: Jenkinson, Djourou,Koscielny, Gibbs
  defensive midfield: Frimpong
  Midfield: Benayoun, Ramsey
  Wings: Arshavin, Ryo
  Striker: Park
  Bench:Mannone, Chamakn, AOC, Rosciky, Gervinho
  
  This team would be a good CC or similar squad. The combinations are almost endless and will depend on what works best and who fits in best. It is fun to think that our backup squad is as strong as most starting 11 mid-table clubs could offer. We can't match City or Chelsea's star-studded lineups but that shouldn't stop us from playing and winning well.

• 23-Sep-2011 14:59 | | Spectrum
  

  J - Funny how we make BIDS for players priced over 20 million, but never actually SIGN any ? Why do you suppose that is ? The highest amount we've EVER paid was 15 million ( for Arshavin ).
  We either must be the "unluckiest " negotiators in England, or there's another reason.
  Uncle Scrooge won't pay the market price !
  " ******************"

• 23-Sep-2011 18:53 | | pygopiranah  - our squad
  

  you know its time we got real. I am sick of people telling me our squad is stronger, bigger, better all round. Let me put this as plainly straightforward as i can, rubbish! Arteta should have joined us 3 seasons ago not now when he is a shadow of the player he once was. Benayoun is Mr injury. Mertersacker looks lost in this league. God help us we have no clue about defending

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