The Arsenal Week In Review 7.17.2011

Another week, another transfer saga but at least there was some action on the pitch to talk about. And that’s where we are going to start.

The Arsenal in Asia Tour:

The week began with the team at the start of what can only be called a highly successful Asian tour. Upon their arrival in Kuala Lumar the team were greeted like rockstars and mobbed everywhere they went. At one particular event it was reported that 6000 screaming Arsenal fans were waiting for Wilshere, Song, Szczesny, and Walcott to make an appearance. And like any junket appearance, it never went off quite as planned as one of Niketown’s reps got a player style welcome when all he did was open a door. However, when the players showed the general enthusiasm was not deterred.

Overall for the club the visit was a financial windfall and gave the players a chance to see how far the Arsenal brand extends. Hopefully its something that resonates with them and makes them reflect on how big Arsenal really are. Little things like this go along way to ingraining on the mind the scope of things.

As for the stuff on the pitch. I am never one who puts too much into the pre-season. I didn’t expect much from a team that had travelled to Malaysia and China with very little practice opportunities and more time for glad-handing. However, there were promising signs and some all too familiar signs.

The promising? You mean besides the fact that Kieran Gibbs went two matches in a row without breaking part of his foot or hyper-extending his ankle? Jenkison is huge, mobile and good on the ball. He still looks like he needs to fully understand the principles of Arsenal’s high line but he has a good mentor in Bacary Sagna. Ryo Miyaichi is going to be good.  He simply has no fear. His talent is raw and needs further development but with his speed and ball skills he certainly looks the part.

Vermaelen looks like he is ready to play some meaningful football and when paired with Koscileny they looked fairly tidy in the back and very adept at speedily getting back. Jack and Rambo gave us a further glimpse of things to come. It’s clear there is a hunger in these two that sometimes seems absent from our more senior players. Hell, that might be said for most of our younger players. Overall the younger players that are being fed into the squad from the reserves  seem to all have a desire that is sorely lacking.

Just a couple of other little positives. Walcott looks good when played in the middle, Vela is overpromising again, Arshavin lost weight and Van Persie looks like he could actually start the season free of injury (there now I’ve gone and jinxed it).

The not so promosing? Two things stood out – Greentown scored on a set piece against Johann Djourou and Sebastien Squillaci. Clearly we haven’t got that whole thing worked out yet. And we also don’t seem to know what to do when an entire team places itself in the box. The Chinese team certainly were intent on showing us what most English teams will have in store for us – a parked bus. And in true Arsenal fashion we had no answer. We tried to chip over,  dribble it or walk it in. But the fact remains noone was trying to take chances from outside the box. Now, I hear that this is something Gervinho likes to do so maybe, just maybe there is some hope in store.

Finally, I am not sure whether it was the pairing of Djourou with Squillaci that made Djourou look awkward but he certainly looked out of sorts.

But anyway, I am neither down or up on the club after these two matches. How much you can take from a team playing on little practice, in higher than average temps and after days of running around doing promotional events? The fact is noone should be feeling anything. If you are optimisitic you live with rose coloured glasses on if you find something negative you continue to find excuses for lynching Wenger.

The team sets off from China to head back the more natural and familiar climes of Europe as they take on FC Cologne in Germany. While it’s still pre-season its a little more robust challenge and gauge then Malaysia XI and Hangzhou Greentown.

Transfer Sagas

On Monday Arsene Wenger finally confirmed what we all had been waiting for, the arrival of former Lille forward Gervinho to Arsenal. Some pundits are already claiming he could be the steal of the summer window for the £10.5 million we reportedly paid for him.  I’ll wait till he actually does something before I make that claim.

We are still inundated with rumours around Cesc and it got a little testy this week with Xiva okay Xavi (But hell he is a Diva) actually being quoted on the official Barcelona Website as saying that Cesc was “suffering” at Arsenal and had done all he could do to move to the Spanish club. Suffering on £110,000 a week, playing a kids game for a living? Yeah, I’d call that suffering.

Xavi was soon followed by the Catalan Mayor, a supposed family friend of the Fabregas’ who came out and said that Arsenal should do the right thing and end this kidnapping and let Cesc go.

But what was great to see was the comments from someone inside the Barcelona family who finally had the decent sense to tell the truth. None other than the legend Johann Cruyff had this to say:

“Arsene Wenger looks after their interests and it is Arsenal who control the situation.”

“Cesc signed for many years and now he has to play for them. If Barcelona  want him, they have to pay for him.

“When you sign for a club, you are bound to it. It is logical to want Cesc  but he is under contract to another club.”

“I have no idea whether Cesc will come here.

“Arsenal are asking for a lot of money. We must use our heads.”

Finally, there is someone attached to Barcelona who is speaking with a sense of sanity. The prevailing thought remains that Barcelona are set to come back with a revised offer for Cesc. As time goes on Arsenal’s position strengthens. And the closer we get to the end of the transfer window.

As for Nasri, Roberto Mancini decided that he needed to weigh in and say that he had hoped to have the Nasri transfer done by the end of the month. That found its way to China and Wenger was none too pleased about the news. He proceeded top smack down Mancini for his lack of respect. Of course Man City came out soon after Mancini made his statement and had to clarify that he was talking about transfers in general. And of course metro-man Mancini came back to say he didn’t understand why Wenger was so upset.

Of course in both instances the club could’ve pursued a complaint of tapping up. With Xavi his comments came on the club’s official site and wasn’t some innocuous comment in the press. As for Mancini his comments were what they were and he did not misspeak. Frankly, stuff like this doesn’t stop until you do something. Sure, if Arsenal were to report either club to FIFA, chances are nothing would come of it. But at least maybe the other clubs would take notice that this is not the way to do business. Until then Barcelona players, political officials and the team mascot will continue to talk about Cesc and Roberto Mancini will continue to coiff his hair and feign ignorance.

I’m all for playing the moral high-ground game however what this really deserves is one big – f**k you.

Couldn't have said it better myself

In Other Transfer News:

Looks like the transfer market for Arsenal is going to get a little interesting. Finally. There are various reports that Denilson will be going back to his original club Sao Paulo on a season long loan. The two clubs are hopeful that it will lead to a permanent deal. The deal looks to be confirmed as both the Sao Paulo President and Denilson via twitter confirmed it was happening, even though nothing has been announced from either club officially.

Another rumour out there is that Galatarasay is set to make an offer for everyone’s favourite cheerleader – no not the Gunnersaurus – but Eboue. That’s right, with Jenkinson set to become Sagna’s key back up, cult figure Eboue could be on his way out.  Others that may be gone include Manuel Almunia who is said to be finalizing a deal to Atletico Madrid and Nicklas Bendtner who may or may not have a deal in place with Borussia Dortmund (or a host of other German clubs)

Not so sure on the Dortmund/Bendy link. They usually play with one striker up top only and they already have two so the need for a striker seems a little off. The newest Bendy rumour though is that Everton could be interested in a season long loan deal as they are looking for up front help but can’t afford to buy anyone.

A lot of people may scoff at these loans but as we’ve said, Arsenal’s unusual wage structure and the lack of form from our deadwood players means that high priced deals for these players is unlikely. What is more likely is the fact that some of these players will be given long term loans with the aim to be for them to prove themselves to potential suitors.

As for players we’ve been linked to, its been relatively quiet. I suspect it is because most of the key executives have been in Asia so there is no work being done. However, soon after the Hangzou match rumours that Arsenal were close to finalizing a deal for Gary Cahill started to emerge. Not surprising considering the calamity act of Djourou and Squillaci.

The more surprising rumour that came out at the tail end of the week was that Arsenal had tabled a bid of £14 million for 18 year old striker Romalau Lukakau. For most of the summer Lukakau had been linked with Chelsea with a deal looking more and more eminent. However, with Anderlecht’s executives in London they dropped the bombshell that Arsenal had entered the race for his services. I don’t know how much faith I play in this rumour. It could just be that they are trying to get more money out of Chelsea for the striker and by bringing another team into the picture they aim to do just that.

Well, that’s it for this edition. We’ll be back later this week. We’re going to begin raring up for the season with more pieces as we get closer to the start. Until then . . . stay Goonerish!!!

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