Happy Hogmanay, Or Transfer Eve As It Is Now Known!
Dec 31st, 2008 by 'holic
I cannot let the old year pass without dropping by to wish you all a very happy, and more importantly healthy, new year. 2008 has been one in which we have travelled the whole wave of emotions, but that hardly makes it unique. 2009 will be no different, I suspect.
Much importance is being placed on the acquisition of new talent in the January transfer window. The wicked glint in Arsene Wenger’s eye as the name of Andrei Arshavin was put to him as a potential arrival could have had one of two meanings. Most are assuming we have a deal prepared to be announced.
I’m not so sure Arsene wasn’t sporting a wry smile brought about by people not realising it just isn’t in his nature to spend huge sums on a twenty-seven year old. A four year deal, with wages, would set the club back somewhere between thirty and forty million pounds, and at that point he would hold no value. Those who criticise Arsene’s transfer policy may care to think about that for just a few moments.
I am taken very much with Arseblogger’s choice of Mikel Arteta, although I have a sneaking suspicion that those papers linking us to him are in fact recycling the original Arseblog article putting the Everton midfielder on our wish list! Everton have already issued a hands-off warning to Manchester City, also rumoured to be interested. If the Middle-Eastlanders are looking at him I think we would face a bidding war we would not entertain.
Don’t be surprised if the first arrival is Clement Chantome from PSG. I’m given to understand the young midfielder was in the frame during the summer, but that deal fell by the wayside when deals for Samir Nasri and Francois Coquelin came to fruition. Wenger may come to the conclusion that either he, or Blaise Matuidi from Saint Etienne, may settle in more quickly. That would be an important consideration in mid-season, and the younger players would remain a saleable asset!
There I go, speculating in a way that drives me nuts. We have a month of it to follow, and however much it infuriates we have to look at every little story, like rubberneckers in a motorway queue when you reach the scene of the crash.
So there it is. Have a great time welcoming in the new year and come back soon, for another roller-coaster ride with the best club in the world. Have a happy one, ‘holics.
27 Responses to “Happy Hogmanay, Or Transfer Eve As It Is Now Known!”
happy new year all!!
thanks for a wonderful year of reading holic
mine’s a margarita …. it is party time after all!?
Blaise Matuidi is my choice. The closest thing I have seen to Claude Makelele and he can really pass the ball well too. Its jsut he would still be 21 and then it takes 6 months to settle so In reality probably would have to wait until summer. Another option is that we bring back Flamini on loan, we must have a decent relationship as they took senderos off our hands for a season and they may just return the favour.
happy new year to all
while i share the suspicion on the arteta rumours i do feel there a lot of reasons why arteta would be a good signing and that this might well be a possibility
-premier league experience he would settle in easily
-can play in fabregas’s position (short term)
-can also play in wide positions (longer term) we only have nasri and eboue really to play there with walcott and rosciky injured
-everton have a decent midfield but are desperately short of striking options due to injuries they need the cash to buy
– arteta would surely chose arsenal over city irrespective of wage or transfer money
-arteta’s spanish selection chances would improve dramatically
i hope we also get a defensive midfielder
that would be better than blowing 20m on arshavin
There’s a number of complications with bringing back Flamini. Firstly, alot of Gunners won’t exactly greet him with warmth because of the nature of his departure as it was seen as a money move rather than a footballing move. Secondly, with Gattuso out for the season no way is Milan letting him go anywhere- not like he’s settled in that team as yet anyways but their lack of options for a CM leaves them no choice. Additionally he’s been injured alot at Milan where he looked like almost indestructible at Arsenal last season.
I’ve heard things about Matuidi but though I do have a soft spot for Les Verts, their on and off form leaves me suspicious of anyone from that team right now. If we want to talk Ligue 1 then Lorik Cana or Jeremy Toulalan from Marseille and Lyon are excellent CMs from what I’ve seen. I’m still also hoping Wenger takes a look back as Affelay from PSV or even go big and try to wrangle Wesley Sneijder or Van Der Vaart from Real Madrid.
Greetings and a Happy New Year to all and especially ‘the ‘holics’ and all their progeny (hope I haven’t said something rude – I read it in a book!)
It is very cold in deepest Shropshire but I am aware of where the brandy is… which is a good thing.
Haven’t got a clue as to what Arsene is doing – although I do expect more activity than usual at this time of year. Just a feeling like. Already two loan deals in place – he wouldn’t be letting players go if he wasn’t bringing in reinforcements… would he?
Right – comfy chair and Rupert Annual time.
…3 loan deals with Barazite…
*nods off again*
He won’t buy anyone… mean bugger.
Relax now and if we get one player it will be a bonus if he is over 18. Looking forward to the Inter-toto.
Happy New Year ‘holic and to all of you too!! Here’s hoping for Inler, a nice creative midfielder and an INJURY FREE (God, have you looked at our fully-fit squad – it’s devastating) 2009!
arsene said he would bring in someone ready to play, so in my opinion we’ll get a prem player. i’m thinking elano on an initial loan deal and mayb veloso as he has recently fallen out with the sporting coach. happy new year everyone and let’s hope that 2009 sees the spuds, villa and man city relegated!!
we get linked to alot of players who have potential from France French or African players in France, I dont think we should buy any more french players because alot of them dont know much about Fans and history, if we had a few more english/german/dutch or portugeuse players they would understand history of the club more.
It seems to me that any French player looking for a move (average or good) will now declare interest in moving to Arsenal on the cheap. Wenger looks at price and takes them ahead of players from other nations because they can communicate their own language. as for african players they will all leave for a month holiday every 2 years.
i say buy, Veloso or Inler if we can, Arshavin and Given.
Also play Ramsey/Wiltshire over Diaby Eboue
And Simpson should have stayed and Bendtner should have gone.
Happy New Year ‘holic – I do enjoy your musings because they tend to be fairly balanced and rational. I’m aware also that your wife has had some health issues in 2008 so I hope she has a better 2009.
As for Arsenal, I suspect your perspective is true. I was thinking the same thing myself that the papers have read various Arsenal blogs, seen what some fans are clamouring for and constructed a story around it. Guillem Balague suspects that Arteta would only be released for around £25m so if that is the case we can forget it because there is no way Arsene would or should spend that kind of money on him.
We need players more in the Sagna/Eduardo price range and quality and we’ll be fine. As chakravo points out – a fully fit Arsenal squad playing with confidence has all the quality necessary to win the big prizes. So that is my wish for 2009 fitness and confidence for the Arsenal and we can rule the world! Yes We Can!
Have a happy new year and here’s to a better 2009 for the management and you, ‘holic.
*raises glass *
Happy new year holic !
Oooh Myles Talks Sh*t … must go read it …
And now I wish I hadn’t bothered … someone bought me “the professor” for xmas last year … sigh …. I was one of the 35,000 copies, that makes me a little sad inside.
Useless to speculate on who, but wenger must buy with effect if he cares about the club ie our place in the table. Villa is a threat and we ignore it at our peril. We have money, use it or lose it arsene.
May I be the first to wish you an electronic Happy New Year, holic? Hopefully holicdad’s Famous Grouse has hit the holic family’s collective spot by now?
A five hour difference in time zone permits an (almost) sober, guilt free, tickle- ickle-ickling, of the keys at your mid-night hour. The main celebrations of the evening are still a few hours ahead for me. The Glenlivet’s open though, the kilt’s on, the shorty, black bun, cherry cake are ready to go. Jimmy Shand is “beltin oot” the Bluebell Polka on the gramophone. The herring’s wrapped in ribbon.
Now, where’s that lump of coal and the hair colour? One out of three on the tall, dark, handsome first-footing front is something I CAN do.
May 2009 be a very good year for you, yours, the good ship Arsenal and all who sail with her, no matter how stormy the seas.
Happy new year, ‘holic
Thanks all for your kind words. I think the value of this site is just as much about the quality of some of the comments as the stuff I put out there, so take a bow.
…and BtM, first-footing is an arrestable offence these days 🙂
Happy New Year to all the GH readers, and most especially GH himself. A first class Gooner and first class human-being!
GoonerHolic.com has come a long way in a short time, long may it continue for 2009!!
Hello – first time on here.. Am so keen on Arteta.. but seems we have Arshavin. Rumours ? Bullshit ? Don’t care, so long as we get one. Shay Given would be nice, ofcourse, but he’s getting on – and Almunia’s getting better; he just LOOKS terrified…
*is amazed at the number of people who fail to order a drink*
My usual, please, ‘holic and a very happy new year to you and the management
AW says he isn`t going to be rushed into making any signings, which you can interpret as playing his cards close to his chest, but could mean that we are once again sitting on the sidelines as the major deals are done, resulting in another fruitless last minute scramble like last summer. Of those players mentioned, I can see Inler and Matuidi as possibles, but Arsharvin will be priced out of our reach, especially if the usual Madrid rumours turn out to be true this time.
Happy New Year all, to the Management and all connected to you Holic, sir. It’s a fine job you do here and long may it continue.
*cheeky drink in hand*, 2009 is gonna be a mighty rollercoaster of a year which will make 2008 seem like a day at the beach; I can feel it in my bones.
Arsene or Ivan needs to gag PHW his comments at times aren’t helpful at the best of times, unless Kolo has been earmarked for sale which is a shame, I will miss the King striding out from the back on slalom like run, ending with a usually wayward thunderbolt of a shot lashed viciously at the oppositions goal. The last of the invincibles, Armourist salutes you.
I don’t believe that Wenger will shell out for the AA (Arshavin) even though we are grounded and in a dire state of emergency, although he is the closest I have seen to Bergkamp in a long time, likewise Arteta is a wet dream that isn’t going to happen. I believe Wenger will like the introvert that he is look into the squad and pull up a player from the ranks to help fill the void, so a closer look at the FA cup squad might show his hand and who is earmarking to fill in the voids in the first team squad.
I believe he should, the club has been set up to generate its own players and in the position that we are in now we must adhere to our policy to see us through, this is the litmus test and the value of riding thru these hard times and still bringing youngsters thru will only serve to enhance our reputation and we will get the best players early as they believe that they will get their chance, such as Ramsey.
It wouldn’t surprise me if we sold players and bought next to no one barring three teenagers. You can bet that the media, some fans and the critics will be queuing up to get on the rollercoaster batons in hand to go Arsene and Arsenal bashing.
HNY to you and yours, Holic (and all other contributors)
Interesting kite-flying piece in the Daily Star that re-enforces my conspiracy theory regarding the lack of funds. All the Hill-Wood announcements regarding the purchase kitty available are, imo, a smokescreen. I am increasingly convinced that a cap of £20M per season has been set (with no roll-over) until the stadium is paid off. So with the purchase of Super Samir that leaves about 12M for this round. What we need are ECL available, Prem acclimatised midfielders.
Not much scope then, I suspect that cheap and French may be the order. Very little chance of Arteta or (hopefully) Arshavin joining if I’m right. However, £5M might persuade Fulham to part with Jimmy B, who could give our kids 2 years maturing time. Speaking of which my 12 year Jura doesn’t need to mature any longer. Cheers
Much nicer here.
Bottle of Pinot Noir please ‘holic
Happy new year ‘holic
A half full glass please