Welcome To The Sharp End, Mr Gazidis
Jan 7th, 2009 by 'holic
The noise surrounding the proposed move for Andrei Arshavin would have been a deal-wrecker in recent history. Arsenal in the Wenger years have been very keen to conduct all of their business out of the glare of publicity. It will, therefore, be interesting to see whether or not a deal can be brokered with a club who seem adamant that they want around £20 million for a 27 year old player with just eighteen months left on his contract. You can be absolutely certain that Arsenal will not be buying at that price.
Welcome to the Premier League, Ivan Gazidis. Arsenal’s newest board member and CEO is walking into a baptism of fire at the club in what could be the busiest month of the season in an administrative sense. The former MLS deputy commissioner will find no shortage of variety as he seeks to establish himself at Highbury House.
From day one he needs to demonstrate an ability to juggle. The Arshavin deal will be presented to him as one to complete at a figure in the region of twelve million pounds, providing that a similar deal cannot be done for a preferred target (Xabi Alonso, anyone?) in the meantime.
Those who believe that there is no smoke without fire will also know there is a deal to be discussed with West Ham. I am given to understand that the proposed move to bring Matthew Upson back to Arsenal, with Nicklas Bendtner travelling in the opposite direction, is not as far-fetched as it sounds. The problem for Gazidis here is that West Ham want, no need, money. As they already have Carlton Cole they are not desperately keen to take on another inconsistent and unproven striker. If Gazidis can pull that one off he will truly be the deal-maker we have been seeking.
Those are not the only issues that will have been dropped on the newest desk this week. Surely the oft-discussed defensive midfield player file will have been passed on. I’m not sure whether it is to Arsenal’s credit that we are no nearer knowing who is in the frame for this window, or if indeed we have no potential arrival and intend to survive the remainder of the season on a diet of Denilson, Song, and Diaby.
Let’s not forget the deal-making may not be restricted to incoming. At least a couple of Gunners are being tipped to move on this month. Then there is the small matter of a new contract for Theo Walcott to be negotiated, and quickly, although that may be delayed to February while all of the window ins-and-outs are resolved.
Presumably once all of these matters have been resolved Gazidis can then turn his attention to the long-term sponsorship contracts. His powers of persuasion and negotiation will be tested to the full here. In the current economic climate one cannot imagine that there are a host of companies beating down the doors at the Grove to effectively pay off Nike and Emirates, and then produce more substantial piles of cash for the club coffers.
We are about to get a very quick measure of the new man. Good luck Ivan, you’ll need it.
30 Responses to “Welcome To The Sharp End, Mr Gazidis”
No drink? I’ll help you open the bar today then. Hope things are picking up for the management.
I’ll have whatever you’re offering me.
Cheers, ‘holic.
Ah, for you Ollie, I have kept a very fine drop of Laphroaig. I’m afraid the management is having a really rough time of it, hence why I am not around much lately. Hopefully the surgeons can sort it all out soon.
Bendtners dad has confirmed that Bendtner is staying in todays danish media. No chance of of him leaving Arsenal, he says.
This is also comfirmed by the fact, that if Bendtner was leaving – Vela would have started in his place against Portsmouth and Plymouth.
In the context of the supposed West Ham fire sale I am a tad suprised that Mark Noble is not being mentioned. Personally I think he is the most Flamini like player in the league.
Sorry to hear about Management ‘Holic.
Don’t worry about having a break from the blog. It just makes your next instalment all the more exciting – like the first drink at the pub on a Friday afternoon.
Speaking of which….
Bendtner has really been a very big disappointment for me. I was prepared to see Adebayor off at the beginning of this season because I was sure Bendtner would be able to rise to the occasion and improve but I’m not sure now. I think the sooner we get rid of him the better as we’ll then be able to move Simpson up sooner. If Simpson was playing for us in the Carling Cup we would have beaten Burnley as even he wouldn’t have missed all the chances that Bendtner did. I’ve given up hope on Wenger signing anybody for a long time now and so I’m not going to get into the Arshavin debate as it’s a moot one as far as I’m concerned. Cardiff in the Cup is going to be tough and assuming we can get up for it and not do a Hull, Stoke or Man City again, I think this is the best way for us to get a trophy this season and I consider 4th place in the league as a trophy too. Let’s hope we can survive a season without Champions’ League football because as long as Wenger is in charge, I don’t see us doing any better this or any other season. It’s so bad I’m actually hoping that George Graham will return to manage us.
Holy Mary, mate, my missus is in better shape than you. Get a grip for goodness’ sake.
best wishes to your better half ‘hols.
make mine a carlsberg please.
if we do get ars-heaven, does this potentially spell the end for tomas? he’s looking at a calender year out now and i’m not sure we should expect to see his again this season. i really do hope that we buy some sort of defensive player either for the midfield or at the back, more steel less silk perhaps just to re-adress the balance of things.
Wenger will give Bentdner 1 more season to mature as he’s so young.
We will see Arshavin coming in this month for approx 13/14m.
Also could see Upson for Gallas or Toure.
But the biggest signing this year will be the signing of Benzema in the Summer.
If Wenger can get him we have a great chance of winning the league and having a good run in the Champions league. But he’ll cost 20/25m.
The sale of Ade will go a long way to subsidising this deal.
Fabianski
Sagna Toure Upson Clichy
Nasri Diaby Fab Arshavin
Benzema V Persie
Why the hell would we need Benzema? The only position where we have depth is in the forwards. Ade, V.Persie, Bendtner, Vela, Eduardo, Simpson, Walcott
don’t forget Diaby in that list…
I have also given up on Bendtner but I dont think wenger has. maybe wenger still thinks Ade will go pretty soon?
Eboue out and Arshavin in for this window would be a great upgrade.
Ant – Huh? Walcott has been played at right or left midfield so why do some muppets consistently list him as a striker? Ffs … he will be one day but now and next season he’ll be a winger. Bendtner is the biggest crappest fucking donkey we have had for years and he will be let go soon enough I hope, and Adebayor looks about as interested as my girlfriend – in other words not at all – Vela looks brilliant but as yet another kid he needs a nfew seasons yet to be considered anywhere near a regular first choice, Eduardo again needs to rebuild his career and there are no guarantees he’ll get back to where he was let alone where we hoped he get to and Simpson is out on loan and may never get into the side in any case … so an argument for a new striker makes plenty of sense to me – I’m not suggesting Benzema is the answer at all and anyway he’ll go to RM most probably, but a new striker might well be brought in next season.
As for Arseshaven … I’d rather have Scott Parker who is actually the most Flamini-like player at West Ham OR (yet another player we should have bought when we had the chance, like A. Young) Reo-Coker who would suit our midfield perfectly.
Read and learn muppets.
I’ll have Sex on the Beach, thanks. And a beer.
Look, there can hardly be complaints about our fully-fit first XI, can there?
Almunia (not a fan at first but he does his job)
Sagna Djourou Gallas Clichy
Walcott Fab Nasri Rosicky
Ade RVP
That line-up can terrorise any European defense. But then come the injuries, and our squad of young ‘uns can’t cope.
Do we really really need a DCM with a fit attacking line-up?
I would love to see Benzema in Arsenal red but unless we stumble on a gold mine under old Highbury he could easily command a 20-30M fee. He is that good, I’ve seen him play and everytime he touches the ball it goes towards the goal. We’re far too shrewd for a player like him and it is only through sheer player desire to come to the club could we really afford his talent.
Bendtner cannot have another season, he has until the end of this one if we retain him, to prove he can make the cut. He’s had roughly 2 real seasons to show he can fire on all cylinders but he keeps breaking down at the side of the road. He looks more and more clueless every game and his best position is a substitute, not a 90 minute regular.
Arshavin’s saga is wearing me down already, we should not be so tied up on one player. If the deal is going to be so complicated I’d much prefer Wenger to take his 12-15M and look elsewhere because for 20M, that’s a rip-off. If I were Wenger, I’d give up on Arshavin by the end of the week if no reasonable price could be compromised.
I don’t think that anyone is going to be in the least dissappointed with Mr. Gazidis. Anyone that can sell football in the American market is a bloody genius. He did that very well and, in fact, expanded the league which is now moving into other markets in North America. Vancouver and Montreal are said to be among the next to be considered for a franchise. If you can consider attempting to sell a sport in a Market that is saturated with professional sports such as the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL then you might understand the scope of the problem. Interestingly, the league known as Major League Soccer, is attracting players from the South of the continent.
He is a visionary with solid business plans which is what the old North American Soccer League lacked. I have no doubt that our Colorodo stake holder on the Arsenal board put the club on to this man.
Right on El Tommo, Reo-Coker would fit like a glove in that midfield.
Arsene Wenger is a stat man.
When Ade, RvP and Bendtner have all been fit and available Bendtner has started 7 games partnering Ade or RvP.
5 prem games
1 fa cup
1 CL.
Arsenal have won all these matches bar the match against Stoke – where RvP was red-carded minutes after replacing Adebayor.
And to The Saint
We could blame the Burnley game on Vela – he missed two one on ones like Bendtner did, but he passed to Brian Jensen in the Burnley goal instead of Bendtner at the end. Bendtners passing was much better.
Can someone please update on the Toure+cash for Ireland deal with Citeh?
Is it on?
If we get Upson, that’d be great – which further indicates that Toure maybe on his way out.
Call it skeptical, but I just cannot see Arshavin delivering the goods in the short space of 4 months. That is when we desperately need him – when Cesc is absent. I would have much preferred someone from the EPL, albeit at a higher price. Someone like Elano.
I think Zenit have just finished their league (Nov) so that would either mean Arse-shaven is right at the top of his game in terms of fitness or completely knackered … Wenger must know which so we can assume the guy is fit as a butchers dog atm but he’s still another lightweight player imho – not tall and not strong … while we are going to miss the creativity and vision of Cesc I would have thought some combination of Nasri and Diaby could handle it and we should concentrate on getting a solid central midfielder who can at least tackle hard and get himself about like a dynamo right across the midfield in front of our defense. We give too much space and time in that area which is why we miss Flamini, who I personally don’t think is that great at defending he is/was just very busy and got in a lot of tackles to disrupt the opposition – that’s what we miss – someone with a decent engine … bring back Romford Pele!
How can anybody believe that Upson could replace Toure? He’s a year older has suffered numerous injuries and has hardly set the world of centre backs on fire. Do we want him as fourth choice behind Gallas, Djourou and Sylvester when we already have Toure and Song.
All the “news” emanating from The Emirates is so much smoke and mirrors, designed to obscure the real trading that is, no doubt, going on behind securely locked doors.
We can all speculate from now until the 2nd February but that’s all it will be speculation. Only when a deal is signed sealed and delivered will Arsenal make a formal announcement, until then whatever you read in the papers, either tabloid or broadsheet, take with a very large pinch of salt.
Just WAIT and SEE!
I think to a large degree you are right, Ancient. The Arshavin part of the piece is just my deduction from all of the stories that are out there, and as I suggested I don’t believe he is the number one target. I do think however if others are not available at the right price then his is a transfer that looks relatively straightforward if Zenit are realistic about what you can ask for someone who could buy himself out of his current deal for less than half of what they are asking.
Upson is a different kettle of fish. I do have what I consider to be a good source for that one. West Ham have tried to ‘engineer’ a cash deal and they were responsible for the reports of Villa interest which Martin O’Neill shot down in flames yesterday. Arsenal won’t spend big money on a player they once let go, but are prepared to do a bit of horse-trading. I think West Ham’s need for cash will probably render this one a no-go, which is why I suggested it would be a measure of just what Gazidis brings to the table.
It looks like zenit are trying to set up an auction for Arshavin. The whole business could drag on for weeks, and I`m definately in the “I`ll believe it when I see it” camp. Upson for Bendtner with perhaps a few million thrown in (by us) looks a very good deal, and if anyone really thinks that Carlton Cole is better than Bendtner, ask yourself if you would like a straight swap with Cole for Bendtner… Precisely! I`ve just opened my second bottle of Ardbeg 10, and find it so delicious that I have great difficulty in swallowing the stuff.
I agree with The Ancient Gooner. The papers and radio are full of so much garbage at the moment. Their problem is one of accountability. They are rarely held responsible for the stuff they print. All it does is to cause fans to react in ways that they need not. I am so bored both reading and listening to this shite. The problem is it is like pied piper syndrome. The tune plays and everyone starts to jump on the bandwagon. Time to wise up. Agents do not help one bit. They are the Satan of the game in my opinion. They cause far more problems than they are worth.
I have no doubt the Arshavin deal is something that Wenger will want. I say that for this reason. When Wenger has been asked about other “targets” as set out in the press he has denied them. This includes the likes of Given, Arteta, Inler etc etc. When asked about Arshavin he said he had nothing to say apart from that he would not speak abnout individual deals. Kind of said it all to me. Whether it happens or not I believe is firmly down to Zenit.
I also have no doubt that there are other deals brewing under the surface. The latest rumour I heard today was Eboue to Inter???? Make of that what you will. Scott Parker would be a good signing for us. However, in the summer I would have a cheeky look at the Mancs. One player who would be a great asset to us would be Carrick. He is just the type of player we are after. It will be interesting to see what happens to Hargreaves and if he ever makes a return. It would be a tough one to pull off but we would really see Ivan earn his corn.
Perhaps of more immediate concern is the fact that the game against Bolton on Saturday is not a sell out. Still tickets available. Now this is the first time that I can remember The Grove having not sold out for a league game. Perhaps the high ticket prices could be a justified a little easier if a few new signings were about to be paraded???????
I don’t get the Upson thing really. He is a capable centreback but in noe way able to play at Champion League level. I’m surprised Capello keeps picking him but that probably tells you more about England than Upson. Not good enough in my opinion, older, slower, more injury prone than Toure. I’m also quite alarmed how quickly Toure (who used to be the ‘next Arsenal captain’) has gone out of favour.
My pet theory with Arshavin is this: he is being bought to do that classic Wengerism: move a creative midfielder out to the wing to cut in (c.f. Hleb, Rosicky, Nasri etc). Wenger will play Nasri in CM to cover for Cesc, and play Arshavin on the left. When Cesc is fit again Nasri will move back outside and Arshavin will become the replacement for Rosicky (whom I doubt we will ever see playing regularly again for Arsenal). Ta Da! I like this because not only do we cover for Cesc for these four months but we also add some quality out wide which I think we need. And if Wenger buys Arshavin as a winger not a CM he is more likely to spend on a defensive midfielder (OK I’m dreaming now but hey…)
Bonssoir young man.
Blimey, there’s a young man here too?
How are you xyzzy?
Hi ‘hoilc. I like the ‘who is in the frame of the window’. Very clever.
Sill, I don’t want to be a pane, but can I have a double glazing?
Excellent Toasey, at least one of you is awake!
What sort of glass would you prefer?
🙂
‘holic, I am in the final stages of ‘plan zulu’. I hope to convert it to plan alpha. For you and your better half, I wish, with all my heart, the very best.