We’re back. And we didn’t miss much, did we?
Vermaelen signed, youngster after nipper signed up on ever longer contracts, and Mr Wenger made a brief appearance on French radio. You didn’t really need your daily splash of UpForGrabsNow to get you through that, did you?
The truth is, it’s been no time for blogging. No, now is the time of year for basking in the hot sun, and the warm afterglow of Arshavin’s quadruple at Anfield.
There’ll be no football for ages and it’s no use torturing yourself by wistfully flitting through Arsenal.com’s exhaustive serialisation of the Player of the Year poll results – “Revealed Today! 34th in our poll was… Amaury Bischoff!”
That way lies insanity. Better to tough it out with a spot of Wimbledon and occasional chortles at GuardianFootball’s superlative Rumour Mill.
One rumour to burst from its cold chrysalis and emerge blinking into the glorious flash-bulbs of a shirt-holding-up-ceremony with all the trimmings, was our interest in former Ajax skipper Thomas Vermaelen. He looks a shrewd signing. Great experience gained as captain of a major European club at just 23, and Tommy will surely be pressing for a starting spot in what’s been a problem position ever since Sol. He looks a bit like Vidic, I think, which means he possesses the eyes of an especially calculating cougar about to clamp it’s jaws around the neck of a hapless snow-hare, and appears to have had a sizeable steel plate embedded deep within his forehead. Let’s hope he plays like Vidic, too.
I expect to see a couple more brought in within the next few weeks, but Mr Wenger will be patient and try to pick his moment. Unless a lot of agents are telling a lot of porkies (not altogether unlikely really) we’re keeping an eye on a range of central defenders, from Werder Bremen’s Brazilian man-giant Naldo to Stuttgart’s promising Serdar Tasci.
What’s that? No midfielders?
The Arsenal Midfield Transfer Target Mystery grows deeper by the day, with every hack and his swarthy hound scrapping for a place within the very broad consensus of opinion That Arsenal Need A Tough-Tackling Midfield Enforcer If They Are To Challenge For Major Honours Next Season (the concluding phrase of every report on Arsenal’s transfer policy for the last, um, 3 years – with a brief interlude during Flamini’s good form).
Everyone is agreed. Mr Wenger has to buy a big hairy troll-man to guard Fabregas.
But who? Nobody seems to have a scoobie, frankly. The papers have largely (and mercifully) stopped bothering with the customary nods towards Inler, Cana, M’bia and Matuidi. They’ve been nodding towards that lot, and a few others, for bloody ages. They’ve probably got really sore necks by now. You’ve got to stop somewhere.
Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Gokhan Inler, lorik cana, Thomas Vermaelen, Wimbledon
July 4th, 2009 at 12:46 am
Welcome back man. the transfer window has been fun and going to get “funier” by the time careless clubs such as Real Madrid are doing AIG, Sentanta and what most of the European Banks did. Don’t ask me what.
I really do not think Wenger will sign another Midfielder. He believes in Song, Denilson and blindly on Diaby. I guess we have a better chance of signing Chamak provided Ade goes as Wenger said.
July 4th, 2009 at 1:30 am
Song has the potential to be a good dm even though Wenger said he sees his future as a cb. Denilson is just weak in every possible area. We really need a good experienced man to help Song develop. poker rakeback
July 4th, 2009 at 2:36 am
I hope all transfer to be completed before friendly matches begins. I’ am tired of reading rumours day after day. Although I do not like the type of play of Denilson, Diably and Song, who are not good enough for Arsenal, I do not bother if no midfielder is signed this summer as I have reluctantly accepted the fact that Arsenal is only a second best team.
July 4th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Please wenger arsenal needs a midfielder who can play along side with Fabregas, our stricking lineup is not so bad.But me as afan I don`t want nosense at the pitch this season.
July 4th, 2009 at 5:07 am
Welcome back. I doubt Wenger will make another signing because he said all signing would be completed before the pre-season training starts. And the pre-season training begins on Monday right ?
But hopefully I’m wrong,, we need another midfielder everybody knows that. Song is not good enough for us. He was useless before the second half of last season. Denilson can step up,, but he’s still 21 don’t hope too much on him. Diaby ? I will make it crystal clear that next season will be his last should his performance be the same.
So Wenger please sign Cana / Hitzlsperger / Matuidi / Toulalan. This is for the good of this club.
July 4th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Mr wenger i think arsenal has two major problems,a hard tackling midfielder and lettingoff adebayor to have Chamack.Chamack is enegetic,very good in air go for him.By the way Wenger what if you sell ade to AC milan and get back our Flamin is just wasted there.if we are to challenge a hard midfielder is needed.remember that only Song can something but not diaby.so backup song & fabregas then we shall go for trophies.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:07 am
I personal, i don’t see what players like Diaby, Silvester,and senderos are adding to Arenal. they are just eating free money.why can’t Mr wenger Dispose them off?. am realy soo sad of it. they are even not of Arsenal quality.
About the midfild,Mr wenger should consider bringing in gokhan inler or cana because that’s what Arsenal is missing at the moment.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:17 am
Denilson is class. His performances last year were great, more consistent than most. He outperformed Fabregas on many occasions. Too many Arsenal fans claimed that Denilson was wrecking Fabregas’s game or not providing enough protection, but really Fabregas just had an average year. He can be brilliant and probably will be this year, but last year’s poor performances cannot be attributed to Denilson.
In future years he will be rivalling Anderson as the best DM in the world.
Having said that another DM, either Inler or Veloso – ridiculously talented would be great, but I would not be suprised if no one was signed as Denilson is still a fantastic player.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:21 am
i dnt want to believe that thats all wenger has done for the summers transfer, am only givin him da benefit of the doubt coz i stil believe he can get us back to the glory days.am there4 hopin dat a defensive midfildr is on the way,coz no one new abt sagna b4 he came 2 arsnl, so dnt expect da common names like cana, inler, mbia n the like.wenger is a veri patient person, giv it time as well, something is bound 2 happen soon.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Dear fans, look here, we have rosicky and eduardo- good as new signings. Tommy already being assigned the ministry of defence, leaving diaby, fab, song and denilson 4 two midfield slots. Fact, if we have every1 in the squad fit, we r good to go!!
July 4th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Let Wenger be reasonable enough and buy an experienced holding midfielder. Go for Felipe Melo or Yaya Toure!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then give us a good central striker! Adebayor has had alot of time, he could have proved himself! Go for Luis Fabiano man.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:43 am
He should be should be serious about a defensive midfielder. But I think if wenger will buy a defensive midfielder it will be august cos he will want to see the perfomance of song or denilson. But if he does not buy I won’t see it as foolishness. If Gilberto has gone a season b4 Flamini shone fans would have been shouting 4 a DM not knowing of Flamini he later outplayed most of the DMs. Lets watch, we don’t know of what Denilson or Song will become next seasnn. Purchase of Chamakh will depend on Adebayor . Does anybody knows how good Chamakh is and can he replace adebayor and do better? Please a fan can reply to olumide.2008@yahoo.com
July 4th, 2009 at 7:45 am
We hav stated again wat we did 4 good 4season&did no gain any tin. Wenger should sing new players lik other clubs to strengtin d strengt of d club and plays. We kno we hav good plays lik fab,song,rosicky,denison.e.t.c but dey ar not enough count d numbas we hav, wit others club.wer andason,tevez,babatov,park etc 4 man u And maluda,mikel,beleti,kalu,deko etc 4 celsea ar on bench.Don’t let any one go and buy mor if 1 or 2 mor play 4 next season if not i dont no wat we apon…remenba Aston vila, Man city etc want 2drop one of d big 4 tink 4der.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Still need some “steel” in midfield。A “Cruncher” that can cut out the Lampards and Gerrards。Don’t see our “Fab four” middle men doing that at the moment。Mascherano，Essien ，Flamini，Cana?，Peter Storey （for those of you who remember him） are the types。Come on Wenger，some things you cannot change，this is basic stuff ！！！
Will continue to support your vision and aspiration but would prefer them combined with a bit of old-fashioned down-to-earthness。
July 4th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Sign Alonso please before its too late!!! =/
July 4th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Why has nobody mentioned moving Kolo Toure in to midfield? If we get another 1 or 2 decently sized centre backs. Move Kolo up to midfield. He knows how we play because he’s our most experienced player, he will cover defence and allow Cesc to stay up behind the strikers and distribute and he’s got a lethal shot on him which he could use more. His younger brother who I don’t rate as much is doing it at the best club in the world.
July 4th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
IF WENGER DOSEN’T SIGN AT LEAST 1 CENTRAL MIDFIELDER WE WILL END UP POTLESS AND VERY CLOSE TO 5TH POSITION. LETS HOPE HE DOES, CUS IF HE HAS NO INTENTION TO HE NEEDS TO SPEAK UP SO I CAN BOOK HIM A FLIGHT TO MADRID, TONIGHT, ALONG WITH THAT USELESS ADE, SECOND CLASS SEAT FOR ADE!!
July 5th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Looks like Melo is the likeliest at the moment. You guys need to trust Arsene. Or support Spurs.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Uhoh- that’s Melo reportedly just gone to Juve. apparently it will be announced later tonight. Thought he might have been a good addition.
July 8th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
song need a chance but this season he has to prove him self ,becoz if mbia arrive he could be sideline felipe was good in s.a started a head of alves but i prefer clichy matuidi i hear is coming and hes in England waiting to be unveil and if wenger miss chamkah there is demba ba can cost less and strengthen strike force lead by adebayor
and van persie
July 10th, 2009 at 4:22 am
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=7541
Who needs Arsenal.com? Exclusive pre-season footage.