Written by Kripakar Marur on Thursday, 01 December 2011 21:13

Mario Gotze is the latest big signing Gunners world over are dreaming of. But I have my doubts about this happening. Here are a few reasons why:

• Gotze is a Borussia Dortmund youth academy graduate. If he leaves, it won't be in January. He will respect Dortmund enough to atleast stay till the end of the season.
• Although Dortmund are all but out of the Champions League, they are the League leaders in Germany. All the more reason not to press for a transfer
• Although Dortmund are all but out of the Champions League, they are the League leaders in Germany. All the more reason not to press for a transfer.
• The story of Gotze moving only to Barca or Arsenal is a typical 'has told close friends' concoction by the English Media.
• And other clubs will be interested. Any manager who has done a Google search on him will be interested. Bayern Munich believe they have a divine right to all talented German players. Man City will try to get him to continue with their policy of trying to win trophies by buying all good footballers available so that there is no one left competitive enough to beat them.
• If at all anyone will make a move for him, it will be Chelsea. They are faltering badly all over the place. Expect a few mega signings from Chelsea in the winter.

On a more positive note, this could be Wenger's masterplan to get Hazard. He loves using smokescreens. Gary Cahill/Per Mertesacker, Hatem Ben Arfa/Samir Nasri etc. Hazard hype has certainly come down since summer and maybe just maybe we could grab him. Dream on  Gunners.

Mean Lean's Response

It is exactly this type of situation that we have the youth policy in place. A youth policy that has been ridiculed and scoffed at over the last few years.

Mario Gotze is a key man in a title winning side, a German international creative player who scores goals and makes goals for fun. Every man and his dog know all about Gotze and it is that reason why I cannot see us signing him.
Other clubs with far deeper pockets will be interested in the player, Borussia Dortmund and agents will know this so prices will escalate. It is the same for Eden Hazard who is in the same boat. Talented, well known and in demand from clubs all around Europe.

Our youth policy works well when we find these players at 16 years of age and not 19/20. We are the Real Madrid of the youth market. We pay youngsters more than most and are able to prize them away from clubs especially given that we have one of the best developmental managers in the game today, that is a big pull for young players as they are given a chance to play at the top level.

We were only able to buy players of the quality of van Persie and Cesc Fabregas because we bought them before they were established.

As much as Gotze looks like a perfect fit for Arsenal, I think we are 2-3 years too late to obtain his signature which would be a shame because he is a great talent.
We need to continue to find the best 16-17 year olds as we have with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and hopefully Ryo Miyachi and make them into the likes of Gotze, Hazard, van Persie and Jack Wilshere.

I would love to be proved wrong and see us win the race to bring the playmaker to Arsenal but I cannot see it happening.

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Comments (11)

• 03-Dec-2011 10:30 | | Raj
  

  we're too tight to spend more than 20 million on him so it wont happen. We wont compete with Chelsea, Manu and city when it comes too wages or transfer fees so coming 4th would be a sucess..It's a shame but its all about money now...I was at highbury last game of season when Villa won the league but those days are long gone

• 03-Dec-2011 10:37 | | KnysnaGunner
  

  Nice article and even better response from Mean Lean.
  
  I have a few problems with fans continually "dreaming of " big name signings. My biggest gripe is that we as fans expect our players to show complete loyalty to the club. Mention Na$ri and we all boo, as an example. Yet we find it totally acceptable to dream about signing big names, which by implication mean that we are not loyal to the players we have. Signing a Podolski to use a name, would mean reduced opportunities for at least one of Park, Chamakh, Walcott and so forth. It is the nature of sport, you may respond. However, is it right that the fans dream of signing "better" players - but the players may not dream of going to clubs which would potentially reward them better through medals or financial rewards? Is it right to deny opportunities to players who have been loyal to us, just because they have not yet (and I stress yet) reached the same level as someone we can sign for £30m or more? I for one think it is hypocritical. Should there be players who have had their opportunities and did not quite make it, let the manager decide when it is time they move on, like he has done in the past. The fans have in any case proven over and over that they are not able to make these judgement calls (Song, Kos, Ramsey - even RvP should all have been replaced in the past if the fans had their way).

• 03-Dec-2011 10:41 | | Zama
  

  Agree with both Kripakar & ML. There's too much noise around & we usually dont do our business like that unless its a Maroune Chamakh or Gervinho. Besides, a lot depends on Wilshere's rehab, Wenger might not want to blow his cash on a player similar in style, talent & age to the one we have already. I won't at all be surprised if the Jan signings, if any, are of the Arteta / Benayoun type i.e. not superstars but can do a Super job with better players around them

• 03-Dec-2011 12:33 | | Passenal
  

  I agree with the sentiment of the article and particularly KnysnaGunner's comments. If Diaby and Wilshere were not currently injured, I don't think we would be hearing all this clamour for Goetze and Hazard. We do actually have some very good players of our own and it would be nice for a change if some of our fans just appreciated and supported them more and forget about 'names' thrown about in the media. The grass is not always greener.

• 03-Dec-2011 12:33 | | Rob
  

  Am I the only one suspicious about his aweful performance against us last week and the fact he was substituted early in the 1st half? Is it a done deal
  Already?

• 03-Dec-2011 12:44 | | arsenal4ever
  

  omg you have absolutely no clue. Wenger never scouted a player that much like him. Still think it will be in summer not january.

• 03-Dec-2011 14:30 | | jp
  

  to mean lean:
  
  thats exactly also the drawback of our youth policy system:you buy guys like cesc with a mixed bringing up(barca and arsenal) and they would always choose the first club or move on to other clubs.(nasri)
  
  
  We need to buy players even younger(i know it isnt possible legally) or buy relatively better players with moderate reputation(better buying podolski than park).
  
  I am not saying to break the bank but if we have to get out of our youth bubble this season and buy at least decent if not world class players,if we want to end up fourth

• 04-Dec-2011 17:46 | | Kripakar Marur
  

  We need a striker badly in January. More important that Gotze. I have a feeling that Podolski will be arriving. Very similar situation to Mertesacker. Contract running out. Not a big current club. 8-12 mill should do the trick. Most important thing is he can also play out wide. No out and out striker will come easily to Arsenal as they know they will be on the bench so long as RVP is not bedridden. They will need convincing that they can play.

• 31-Jan-2012 17:00 | | Anonymous
  

  

• 31-Jan-2012 17:00 | | Anonymous
  

  

• 05-Mar-2012 03:04 | | Fatso
  

  ML, I have read it. I liked the conclusion: "So next time you hear two people debating over whether our expectations should be driven by our net spend or our wage bill, bang their heads together, tell them they are both right and end this most frustrating of cyclical arguments."
  
  "Mario Gotze is the latest big signing Gunners world over are dreaming of. "
  
  If we don't finish 3rd then forget about big signings in Summer.
  
  Fourth doesn't guarantee CL any more. Udinese almost kicked us out. Only when Champions League qualification was assured did we make our last minute purchases. Too late.

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