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Home›General›The Arsenal summer so far

The Arsenal summer so far

By Michael Price
June 30, 2012
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Ed note: We’re contonually looking for writers to add to our team. Today we feature a round up of the Arsenal transfer activity so far by Tom Marshall-Bailey.  Enjoy.  – DAG

It has been a whirlwind transfer market thus far for Arsenal, and better yet, there could be more to come. Following on from the astute addition of Lukas Podolski earlier this summer, the club have also now concluded the exciting signing of Olivier Giroud.The purchases of both Podolski, who recently won his 100th cap for Germany, and the Frenchman have proved that the club has ultimately learned from the well-documented haphazard transfer policy that occurred in the aftermath of one of the Gunners’ darkest days – THAT defeat to Manchester United.

Sealing these two early transfers gives us the added benefit of being able to bed them into our squad, and perhaps most importantly our footballing ethos, as well as signalling real intent ahead of a crucial set of contract talks with club captain and talisman Robin Van Persie. The doubt over Van Persie’s future has been the only cloud over what has been an otherwise very successful summer so far for Arsenal and a new deal for the Dutchman must surely be the next issue on the club’s agenda. Contract discussions with Theo Walcott, who of course has just one year left on his contract and is rumoured to be unhappy about how little he has been approached regarding new terms, and Alex Song, who has two years left to run, are other highly important factors in our recruitment drive this summer but Van Persie is clearly the priority.

The ironic thing concerning Arsenal’s different stance this summer, in securing two international strikers before the transfer market officially opens (July 1), is that even though it is showing Van Persie that the club mean business as they look to win their first silverware since 2005, it may also appear to be a contingency plan in the event he leaves.

Of course, the Dutchman should be excited at the prospect of linking up with two brilliant attacking options, but he may also consider the idea that the club are now perhaps over-stocked in the forwards department and are becoming less adamant on keeping him at the club. It remains to be seen what Van Persie will decide to do this summer with the likes of Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint Germain and Russian moneybags Anzhi Makhachkala casting a keen eye over negotiations in the coming weeks.

Either way you look at it, Arsenal can consider themselves to be in a far healthier position than last year. Only Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was being labelled as “just another kid” had been purchased and with Cesc Fabregas gone and Samir Nasri seemingly non-committal to a new contract on the table the club were, quite naturally, in a desperate situation. Following on from the Old Trafford debacle, we signed Park Chu Young, Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta.

Now, say what you like, but for me personally, only two of these have been immediate successes. And not surprisingly, the two have vast Premier League experience. Our two deadline-day buys of Benayoun and Arteta helped to steady the ship, and having played for a number of seasons over here, they were able to adapt to the club seamlessly. Mertesacker and Santos have shown promise, but both are not acclimatised to the rigours of the Premier League in my opinion and have struggled against clever attacking teams, the big German’s lack of pace still proves to be a serious worry for my health, let alone others. Park, I feel hasn’t been given a chance by Arsene Wenger, but then who am I to question his judgment?

Our two new signings will be given a full pre-season to get to know their team-mates, get a feel for the style of football we demand at the Emirates Stadium and most importantly get some solid match practice under their belts. Our plans for next season are shaping up very nicely and once you consider that two of Wenger’s five priorities, yes five, are out the way, you begin to see how Wenger, Ivan Gazidis and chief negotiator Dick Law want to set the club up nicely ahead of the new campaign. Many are already talking of a title challenge. It’s early days for that just yet, but having watched various teams since the ‘Invincibles’ flatter to deceive, it is nice to see Wenger signing experienced players to help us in our quest for trophies.

So, Podolski – check. Giroud – check. Van Persie & Walcott contracts – up next. And then the fifth part of the masterplan – Yann M’Vila.

The Frenchman has been the a player that Arsenal have been heavily linked with  since last year and both the French. Now the top two targets are on board, fans will want to see a third added to what is set to become a lengthy list of signings.

A true DM like M’Vila is certainly what Arsenal need. Song has already proved that his defensive work is far less consistent than his attacking instincts. His distribution to Van Persie at times last season was nothing less than exceptional. It has resulted in Mikel Arteta being our most defensive-minded midfielder, with the Spaniard happy to sit and look after those behind him while the likes of Song, Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey orchestrate play in front. With Arteta missing though, there is no natural defensive shield, something the club has sorely lacked since the departure of Gilberto Silva. This is where M’Vila could prove such a crucial cog in the machine and at a price tag of around £17m, defensive problems which have haunted the club for what feels like an eternity could finally be solved.
Rumours have emerged that Wenger has been far from impressed with the Rennes player’s attitude after a series of off-the-field incidents including recent arguments within the French camp.

Fans have been quick to argue that Van Persie had an attitude that Wenger took a risk on and should do so with M’Vila, with the argument: “look at Van Persie now.”
Whether Van Persie’s contract is extended or if M’Vila does indeed join the already bulging options open to Wenger next season, the club can be proud of their activity in the transfer market, a far cry from last summer, at least.

TagsArsenalArsene WengerBenayounGiroudManchester CityNasriPodolskiRobin Van PersieTransfers
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10 comments

  1. stag133 1 July, 2012 at 21:32 Log in to Reply

    Spain = best National Team Ever

    They simply don’t allow ANY goals when it matters.
    Haven’t allowed a goal in knockout matches since 2006.

    Have only allowed 25 goals in their last 50 or so competitive matches.

    DEFENSE wins Championships.
    Not pretty play, and nice passing… at the end of the day, its about defense.

    and we’re busy buying strikers.
    really hope we aren’t done bringing in players… though we’ll have to start selling a few soon…

    Cesc is a fantastic player, and right in his element playing for the National team and Barcelona… he’s even better than he was at Arsenal.

    It’s laughable that there are folks that said he wouldn’t even get into the Barcelona side, that he should stay at Arsenal so he could play!

    and now Mata and Torres are piling it on…

    well done Spain. simply the best.

  2. Domhuaille MacMathghamhna 30 June, 2012 at 14:34 Log in to Reply

    Another feeble attempt to review our past transfer history,particularly last summer’s arrangements, which only shows up your paucity of imagination Daadmingonner!

    1)¨well-documented haphazard transfer policy¨…what you mean by this is clearly that you read a lot of spurious commentary on shite posts like yours and that makes it true? Aw and AFC clearly proved that they had been negotiating for at least 6 weeks before any of the transfers from last season happened.. That means your haphazard theory is BS, as usual.
    2)Aside from Park Chu Young who we rarely saw, Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta ALL proved their worth and those remaining will do so again. The German has become a welcome option in the back 4, as has Santos (although I see him as a better attacking fullback than Gibbs)and the best of the lot,Arteta will make a great deal of difference this season. Where was the problem here, aside from injuries?
    3)M’Villa could be a good transfer but we do have Frimpong and Coquelin,Song, Ramsey and Wilshere available once again and even RVP can play behind the striker when needed so, while it is a great option to have M’Villa, we may not need him.

    Please try to write something original next time rather than just post regurgitated crap from Wenger-haters!

    • stag133 30 June, 2012 at 16:50 Log in to Reply

      @Domhuaille MacMathghamhna, yeah. what do we need any new players for? we have all those great signings from last Fall… I mean, I know we finished a mile behind United and City, and that we haven’t won a trophy since 2005, but Wenger the the Arsenal Football Club, PLC, Inc, clearly proved that they can make MegaMillions from selling off our best players every year, and still manage to get folks to show up in droves!
      ;)

      Wenger for life. The club can’t possibly exist without him.
      Here’s to another run at 4th place… amen.

    • DaAdminGooner 2 July, 2012 at 12:07 Log in to Reply

      @Domhuaille MacMathghamhna,

      All those players ‘proved their worth’ and yet we finished some 18 points off first place? We clearly don’t need to improve ANYWHERE.

      FACT: Most of the goals that were scored against were created from the middle of the pitch. Why? Alex Song our DM maurauding forward and leaving the back line exposed on the counter.
      If you’ve ever watched M’Vila play, you will know then that he hardly ever ventures forward and prefers to sit 20 yards in front of the CBs.

      The only thing that was proven last summer was that Arsenal as a group – the board, Ivan and his chums, and Arsene Wenger completely misjudged the transfer window and lost out on all their targets without having a viable plan b. The fact that the people they brought in worked out has more to do with plumb dumb luck than actual planning on those targets which everyone agrees – they didn’t. Though Santos looks like he was a target a lot earlier than the others.

      As for Frimpong & Coquelin – Frimpong is likely the only one who is a the make up of a true DM. The problem with Frimpong is that his immaturity gets the best of him and if he doesn’t get control of it, I suspect he will not be an Arsenal player in the next two years. Coquelin is a good solid player and I believe a future Arsenal star but he is more a box to box type than a stay at home DM. I can’t stress this enough – I believe our defence isn’t as bad as it looks. I believe our defence would be be better if it got the proper cover from the midfield it needs. We were tighter last season because Arteta played that roll – not because he is a DM but because he doesn’t lose the ball like Song. But someone who can lock down the middle of the pitch is something we have been missing for a long time. We need it and I belive it is the missing ingredient for this team.

      • stag133 2 July, 2012 at 14:10 Log in to Reply

        @DaAdminGooner, I will agree that a stay at home DM will help the defense… that’s a no brainer. However, when we had Gilberto, there were many people that said he was “useless”, and did nothing on the pitch.
        Only when he got injured, did we see his value.

        Having said that, Arsenal were “impressed” with Denilson’s “progress” on loan… and want him back in London! (either that, or they’re trying to force Sao Paolo to buy him, rather than continue to take him on loan, which is what they prefer).

        But if you look at the best teams, the best defensive teams in England, Germany, Spain even… there is linchpin CB, who is stay at home, strong and physical.
        Arsenal have absolutely NOBODY in that mold.

        • DaAdminGooner 2 July, 2012 at 16:15

          I agree with your assessment on Gilberto. His value was never truly realized until he was missing from the lineup.

          I was never impressed with Denilson. His ‘any way but forward’ style of play was crap he was fortunate enough to have some moments of quality that tricked everyone. I expect him to either go back out on loan or finalize a deal with Sao Paulo. He wants to be there, they want him there and Arsenal wants him there. All it depends on is agreement in fee – which is where the sticking point is

  3. MJB 30 June, 2012 at 13:12 Log in to Reply

    Disagree about Santos and Mertersacker given the amount of time they had to aclimatise.

    I also think M’vila is highly over rated and his off-pitch antics leave alot to be disired. we would be much better off without him.

  4. Neil Patrick 30 June, 2012 at 12:54 Log in to Reply

    Disagree

    Mertesacker is shit and slow.

    Worst blog going.

    I’m back

    • James 30 June, 2012 at 13:10 Log in to Reply

      @Neil Patrick,

      utter tripe, Mertesacker needs time to adapt.

    • stag133 30 June, 2012 at 16:56 Log in to Reply

      @Neil Patrick, Mertesacker is less than impressive… slow, awkward and not good in the air either… he was not a good signing.
      But bringing in players is “hit and miss”… I don’t fault Arsenal for trying to improve the CB position…
      it was terrible last year as well… but we’re going to have to try again, if we want to win anything …
      (which is the real question… what are we trying to win…)

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