Going into this summer after six trophyless seasons, Arsene Wenger and his followers knew they had their work cut out.
They knew that their club captain, and their most influential player, Cesc Fabregas was going to leave, and were in all probability looking for replacements for the inspirational Spaniard.
Arsenal were linked with names like Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing at the start of the summer. None of them could replace Cesc, but all three of them, could have added something this Arsenal team desperately requires;
Class!
Then, Samir Nasri added to their woes by announcing (or not), that he wanted to leave the club and was extremely close to joining their rivals, Manchester United. Luckily, for Arsenal, that move didn't work out, but unluckily a few weeks later, a move to Manchester City did materialise, and Arsenal lost two of their best players in a matter of a few days.
This followed Gael Clichy's move to Manchester City. By then, Young and Downing had signed for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively and Juan Mata had agreed terms to join Chelsea. Others, linked with the Gunners included, Scott Dann, Phil Jones, Jose Enrique, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka.
Wenger got none of them.
He bid 6 million for Cahill (Bolton wanted close to 15). Arsenal were interested in signing, Jose Enrique. (He signed for Liverpool) They wanted Scott Dann. (He signed for Blackburn) They bid 9 million for Phil Jones. (Blackburn sold Jones to United for 16.5 million) They wanted Baines and Jagielka. (They got none. A club in desperate need of cash might have been lured in selling for money. They got Arteta, they could have got the others too.)
Then they got beaten 8-2 to Manchester United and 'The manager of the decade' took a leaf out of a great manager, Sir Alex Ferguson's book. He spent just like other great managers do, instead of being arrogant. He bought:
Per Mertesacker. Great buy. (He's the guy who stopped Messi and the rest of Argentina in the World Cup)
Better than Jagielka? Yes.
Better than Gary Cahill? Potentially yes. But Cahill would probably get the edge because of his experience in the English game. But in all fairness, he fits into Wenger's thought process of buying potential. While, he is experienced and has proved himself, a good season in England still awaits and whether he proves himself against Rooney, Young, Suarez and Bent etc, is another thing.
Good transfer business: Umm, yea
Andres Santos: Gael Clichy's replacement.
Is he better than Clichy? Doubt it.
Is he better than Baines? NO Is he better than Jose Enrique? Doubt it. ( a proven LB in the EPL)
Good transfer business: No. Simply because he replaced someone who was better than him. And 'The manager of the decade' could have got someone better (Baines or Enrique)
Mikel Arteta: Replacement for Fabregas. Other players linked included Juan Mata.
Is he better than Fabregas? NO
Is he better than Mata? NO
Is he injury prone? Yes
Good transfer business: No. You can't replace players like Fabregas. You can't replace players like Fabregas with Arteta for sure.
Yossi Benayoun: Replacement for Samir Nasri? Other players linked included Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.
Is Benayoun better than Nasri? NO
Is he better than Young or Downing? NO
Is he injury prone? YES
Good transfer business: NO. (Even though its a loan deal)
Park Chu
Don't know, won't comment. Apparently he's good in PES. (If that's the reason, please start playing FIFA, Mr. Wenger)
So all in all, was this a good transfer window for Arsenal, considering they signed five players on deadline day? I say, no.
The signings could end up being disastrous. Also, if Santos gets injured or doesn't adjust to England? Why is Armand Traore at QPR?
And oh, they were also linked with Eden Hazard and Karem Benzema.
Note: This could be one piece of opinion that could go horribly wrong, but I'm sticking my neck out and saying, in all probability this piece of opinion will be absolutely correct.
WAKE UP Wenger, WAKE UP Arsenal.
They knew that their club captain, and their most influential player, Cesc Fabregas was going to leave, and were in all probability looking for replacements for the inspirational Spaniard.
Arsenal were linked with names like Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing at the start of the summer. None of them could replace Cesc, but all three of them, could have added something this Arsenal team desperately requires;
Class!
Then, Samir Nasri added to their woes by announcing (or not), that he wanted to leave the club and was extremely close to joining their rivals, Manchester United. Luckily, for Arsenal, that move didn't work out, but unluckily a few weeks later, a move to Manchester City did materialise, and Arsenal lost two of their best players in a matter of a few days.
This followed Gael Clichy's move to Manchester City. By then, Young and Downing had signed for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively and Juan Mata had agreed terms to join Chelsea. Others, linked with the Gunners included, Scott Dann, Phil Jones, Jose Enrique, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka.
Wenger got none of them.
He bid 6 million for Cahill (Bolton wanted close to 15). Arsenal were interested in signing, Jose Enrique. (He signed for Liverpool) They wanted Scott Dann. (He signed for Blackburn) They bid 9 million for Phil Jones. (Blackburn sold Jones to United for 16.5 million) They wanted Baines and Jagielka. (They got none. A club in desperate need of cash might have been lured in selling for money. They got Arteta, they could have got the others too.)
Then they got beaten 8-2 to Manchester United and 'The manager of the decade' took a leaf out of a great manager, Sir Alex Ferguson's book. He spent just like other great managers do, instead of being arrogant. He bought:
Per Mertesacker. Great buy. (He's the guy who stopped Messi and the rest of Argentina in the World Cup)
Better than Jagielka? Yes.
Better than Gary Cahill? Potentially yes. But Cahill would probably get the edge because of his experience in the English game. But in all fairness, he fits into Wenger's thought process of buying potential. While, he is experienced and has proved himself, a good season in England still awaits and whether he proves himself against Rooney, Young, Suarez and Bent etc, is another thing.
Good transfer business: Umm, yea
Andres Santos: Gael Clichy's replacement.
Is he better than Clichy? Doubt it.
Is he better than Baines? NO Is he better than Jose Enrique? Doubt it. ( a proven LB in the EPL)
Good transfer business: No. Simply because he replaced someone who was better than him. And 'The manager of the decade' could have got someone better (Baines or Enrique)
Mikel Arteta: Replacement for Fabregas. Other players linked included Juan Mata.
Is he better than Fabregas? NO
Is he better than Mata? NO
Is he injury prone? Yes
Good transfer business: No. You can't replace players like Fabregas. You can't replace players like Fabregas with Arteta for sure.
Yossi Benayoun: Replacement for Samir Nasri? Other players linked included Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.
Is Benayoun better than Nasri? NO
Is he better than Young or Downing? NO
Is he injury prone? YES
Good transfer business: NO. (Even though its a loan deal)
Park Chu
Don't know, won't comment. Apparently he's good in PES. (If that's the reason, please start playing FIFA, Mr. Wenger)
So all in all, was this a good transfer window for Arsenal, considering they signed five players on deadline day? I say, no.
The signings could end up being disastrous. Also, if Santos gets injured or doesn't adjust to England? Why is Armand Traore at QPR?
And oh, they were also linked with Eden Hazard and Karem Benzema.
Note: This could be one piece of opinion that could go horribly wrong, but I'm sticking my neck out and saying, in all probability this piece of opinion will be absolutely correct.
WAKE UP Wenger, WAKE UP Arsenal.
LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteInteresting analysis. I'm sure Cahill will come for a free in the summer or a pre-contract in Dec. Hazard and Gotze are too expensive, able replacements though, with 3 days remaining, their prices were always gonna be sky high. I've always said Arsenal's first team is good enough to win against most teams, its our bench strength that screws us. That being said, Arteta, Chu, Yossi and co are good players to have on your bench.
ReplyDeleteYou're now blogging against Arsenal just for the sake of doing so.
ReplyDeletePer Mertesacker – 26 years old, Former Werder Bremen captain, 75 Germany caps
Andre Santos – 28 years old, 22 Brazil caps
Mikel Arteta – 29 years old, 161 Premier League appearances – more than any other Arsenal player
Yossi Benayoun – 31 years old, Current Israel captain with 83 Israel caps
Park Chu-Young – 26 years old, Current captain of South Korea with 53 caps
The big German centre-half is exactly what Arsenal have been crying out for, and I’m looking forward to him forming a solid partnership with Vermaelen.
Santos – you don’t play for Brazil regularly without being a half-decent footballer. He's an attack minded LB similar, fits into the Arsenal style of play.
Arteta is vital addition. He knows the league inside out, he can pass the ball, and score goals. We’ve seen Ashley Young has stepped up to another level since joining a Champions League club, so why do u brush aside the fact that Arteta has the talent to do the same.
Benayoun in my opinion was never a Replacement for Nasri, we have Gervinho for that (Skillfull, Pacy left sided winger ala. Samir Nasri).
Benayoun was to add that depth to the squad. And the much needed experience. That impact player arsene can throw onto the pitch when he looks at his bench. He hasnt cost Arsenal a thing yet, and still bring with him some impressive numbers in the Premier League.
Park, meanwhile, seems like a hungry forward who will fit right in to Arsenal's technical style of football.
These signings lift the squad after a battering at Old Trafford. Give belief to players like RVP, Vermaelen, Walcott to continue giving it their all.
And 5 years ago, not many knew of Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, give Wenger the credit for that.
It remains to be seen on the pitch if the new additions are a success or not, but all look like solid players that’ll work hard and do a job for the team.
Kumail: Don't read it, you're not getting the point man.
ReplyDeleteRaahil: You have'nt got the point mate. Your views are on the basis of your hatred for the club, much before even judging the performances of the players that you completely wrote off before they have even made their 1st appearences for the club.
ReplyDeleteFor a guy I consider to know knows his sports, a pre-mature "verdict" like this in my opinion is only coming out spite and not reality.
Note: This could be one piece of opinion that could go horribly wrong, but I'm sticking my neck out and saying, in all probability this piece of opinion will be absolutely correct.
ReplyDelete---
It's my point of view, I warned you about it. I'll never be convinced of any team replacing stars like Fab and Nasri. If Gervinho is Nasri's replacement, then Adebayor still needs to be replaced. Same with Henry.
And with those stats of their international career, I'm sorry, I'm not convinced.
Heskey has 62 appearances for England. Should he be a player at a club in the top 4?
Haha you're never convinced, because you see only what you want to see.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy playing the Devil's Advocate.
Anyway, not like Liverpool has done shit in the longest time either.
I think that you're being rude to Arteta..he may not be Fab (pun intended) but he did help Everton win lots of games! Maybe he'll do the same for Arsenal.
ReplyDeleteI doubt fake Park is better than THE PARK! :P