Three I’d like to see at Arsenal

With the conclusion of the Champion’s League it looks like silly season can now get well and good underway. There is already alot of speculation around Arsenal and what they are trying to do. With the recent acusition of the club by Stan Kroenke we are being linked with big names and big money buys. But who is it that makes sense? Well, I have 3 choice players that I would like to see at Arsenal. Not sure they make sense either but hey it’s my blog and I can do what I like, right?

Eden Hazard

It’s a name that is getting a lot of play and linkage with Arsenal. His rise to stardom has grown substantitally year over year. The Belgian has undergone a remarkable transformation from unsettled Lille youngster to a Ligue 1 sensation and one of the most sought after players in Europe. He is a fleet-footed player who can play on the wing or in the midfield with many likening him to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But it is perhaps the Belgian press who have paid him the biggest compliment by naming him as the heir apparent to lengend Enzo Schifo.

Hazard had issues to start this past season when he was criticized for his work effot by the Belgian national manager. He was also subsequently dropped by Lille manager Rudi Garcia.  He didn’t play in Ligue 1 until November but eventually reestablished himself as a team leader. His re-emergence has drawn the interest of many of Europe’s top clubs but it is Arsenal that is said to lead them all.

Hazard is a defender’s nightmare having the ability to dribble the ball at pace and with a low centre of gravity like that Messi kid in Spain, he easily breezes past competitors. Also like that maestro in Spain he can turn most plays into a spectactular attempt and has scored some amazing creative goals. Still there are lingering concerns about his work rate and strike-rate is also inconsistent but he does create a lot of chances for others.

He is the only the only french player to win young player of the year award twice (not even Henry or Zidane  did that) and his fearlessness and explosive ability caaused Zindane to say:

Eden is technicall gifted and very fast. I would take him to Real Madrid with my eyes closed. He can become a great footballer, he is a star of the future.

Gary Cahill

If Arsenal lacked steel in the heart of their defence surely signing one of England’s most promising centre-backs has to be a priority. He is young (25) big and strong (6’2″) and is a proven talent (multiple team related awards). His play has been solid enought to earn him international call ups whenever Terry or Ferdinand go down.

He is committed and strong who is a no-nonsense defender – something we need. He is good in the tackle and at 6’2″ is an aerial threat.  He is a leader on and off the pitch and is someone who is not afraid to call his teammates out on the pitch.  All in all his qualities are exactly the making fo the player Arsenal sorely lacks right now.  There are some concerns about his consistency and on some occasions his positioning sees him get exposed.

Owen Coyle had this to say about him:

Mentally he is there, as well as physically and ability-wise. There is no doubt for me that he will really push himself into the England squad.

Yann M’Vila

Frankly this one is probably a pipe dream as M’Vila has just signed a new contract that takes him 2015 with his current club Rennes. M’Vila broke through the first-team barrier in 2010 after spending 2009/2010 as a promising youngster.  But since his ascesion to the first team he has been a staple in the the midfield for the French club.

He has represented France at every level from U16 to U21 and he has helped the Rennes academy win the Coupe Gambardella (French Youth Cup) in 2008. He is a robust challenger and fears no-one when making a challenge. He has a fantastic work-rate but he isn’t just a lump in the midfield.  He has excellent vision and is instrumental to building Rennes attack from the back going forward.

Where he does have an issue is when he takes on players of genuine place and well, if we’re honest his eye for goal is lacking. But when a player draws examples to Claude Makelele, he would surely be an asset to have.

There are certainly other players we are going to be linked with. Frankly I am not sure if any of these three will happen – as I did say M’Vila did just sign a contract extension with Rennes. The thing is, I think there will be extraordinary activity at the club this summer with the comings and goings.

By the way one transfer rumour that is getting a lot of play is the possibility of a transfer of Argentinian Ricardo (Ricky) Alvarez from Vélez Sársfield. A few English sites have had this but Youn Guns has gone so far as to report that Richard Law the executive in charge of negotiating players contracts is in Montevideo to discuss the transfer.

This guy is a 6’2″ midfielder who is extremely talented. Don’t believe me watch this:

And on a final note – looks like time has been called on Mark Randall’s Arsenal career – Young Guns is reporting . . . the promising player with the horrible attitude has been cut loose by the club. While he showed promises in his loan spells he never quite showed the effort needed. So while it is not a senior player – some of the dead wood on the lower levels continues to be cleared out.

Speaking of dead wood, we have gone back and forth on Andrei Arshavin. As much as I like the player I have been rather vocal in my desire to see him sold. However, the player looks set to stay as he has said he wants to stay and that the manager wants to work with him next season. So if its all true – I hope Andrei shows some of the spunk that got him here as well as the desire to improve. If not that this represents a step back in my opinion. Still, when he flashes that magic, he is as good as any.

That’s it for now. So, until next time. . . Stay Goonerish

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