Is He, Or Isn't He?
Feb 13th, 2010 by 'holic
Wherever possible I try to avoid transfer speculation, but sometimes it is difficult to completely turn a blind eye. There are lots of reasons for breaking that self-imposed restriction today. The main one is that, having exhausted the supply of recognised strikers, the club now appears to have temporarily lost the services of the man charged with the job of leading the line despite his acknowledged lack of verticality.
The comments section on the last piece showed how Arsenal supporters are still split over the topic of Emanuel Adebayor, and the feeling exists in some quarters that he was not adequately replaced. Indeed, there was a widespread clamour for the signing of a new forward in the January transfer window, and I have to hold my hand up to sympathising with that viewpoint.
One of the problems with speculation is that it can sometimes be used as a cynical tool to sell newspapers. Even midway between transfer windows there will be speculation rife about who will be signing who as soon as the window opens, and much of it proves to be wide of the mark.
Now we cannot actually sign anybody currently registered with another club until the first of June, but that doesn’t stop the Sun proudly informing us all today that we have secured the services of Marouane Chamakh for next season. He has, they say, ‘put pen to paper on a Gunners pre-contract agreement’, despite the fact that both Arsenal and the player have denied that such a deal has been completed.
Now personally, I really hope that this does come to pass. It is no secret that we sought to secure him during the last close season, but his current club held out for a fee that we considered excessive for a player with only a year of his contract remaining. Already though there is discussion on Arsenal sites about the relative merits of the player.
I can honestly say I have seen a fair bit of him in the last couple of years. A good friend who travels over from Paris for most Arsenal home games also has a soft spot for Bordeaux, and so I have been persuaded to seek out streams of their games on a regular basis.
The main criticism of Chamakh from those yet to be convinced by him is that he is not a prolific scorer in French football. True, he averages a goal every four games, but having just turned twenty-six he is probably approaching his most productive years.
To my un-trained eye he also looks an ideal fit for Arsenal. He is not the archetypal six foot two striker, although he does look useful in the air. He looks accomplished with the ball at his feet, and often appears comfortable in the close-passing moves that figure strongly in most Gunners performances. Having featured prominently in les Girondins title triumph last season he has also enjoyed Champions League experience as a result.
Now when we baulked at paying an eight figure fee for him last summer we had the prospect of van Persie, Bendtner, Eduardo, Vela, and Walcott to compete for the striking roles. The fitness issues that affected all of them could not reasonably have been foreseen.
With question marks over the long-term future of at least a couple of those Chamakh becomes an irresistible target on a Bosman. My only fear is that others have been well and truly alerted to his availability and we will face a fight for his services. We all know what will happen if we end up in a bidding war, especially one that will be purely based on salary.
81 Responses to “Is He, Or Isn't He?”
Can’t believe I’m first! Bubbles bartender, bubbles!
Can’t believe we bought Chamakh either. I think I’ll wait for the official confirmation.
Arsene mentioned David Villa recently, saying he was not available in the January transfer window. He is not a 6′ 2″ striker either but I would be interested to see him at The Emirates. A year or two back, he said he would like to play for Arsenal and I wonder why Wenger mentioned him, if he is completely out of reach. I guess there is about as much chance of that, as there is of us winning the EPL this year but it is fun to dream.
Under contract with Everton until June 2013, the midfielder Marouane Fellaini (22) could move to Arsenal in the next window transfers. According to the tabloid The Sun, the Gunners have already reached agreement with the former footballer of the Standard Liege on the basis of a four-year contract.
I can only assume this is true, but we shall wait and see what happens but my question is. What happens to Chamakh when Van Persie is fit and healthy? Is he just a back up? Or does Wenger move a player who was our most productive before his injury. Chamakh doesn’t appear to be a player who can move to another position. So it is a strange one for me.
However I am totally jumping the gun, but it is an interesting thought.
I think there’s a fair chance that he is, ‘Holic. He (and the Ryan Babel’s of this world) are probably in the category we can afford.
Arsene’s comments last week and the discussion that followed on financing the acquisition and maintenance of world class strikers was sobering.
It’s one thing to stump up 30Mill+ for the David Villa’s of this world. But the second whammy on top is paying the salary these guys command. Some of the talk reached 150k per WEEK.
That’s a Forth Road Bridge too far. Do the sums.
Assume the guy comes for 4 years:
Transfer Fee – 30 Million
Wages – 30 Million (50 weeks x 150k x 4 years)
Total – 60 Million
Would 60 Million buy us the silverware some crave? No guarantee. He might be crocked in his first game – so there’s a big risk factor.
Another way to look at it. Assume 100 quid per ticket per game. To break even on David Villa, we’d need an extra 600,000 fans through the turnstiles at The Emirates in the next four years.
Where are we going to put them? The ground is usually sold out. No problem! Just raise the ticket prices to cover the 60 million. Then everyone will be happy?
Of-course, we could sell Vela (6), Eduardo (8), Rosicky (8), Walcott (10) and buy Villa, I suppose. A four for one kind of deal?
So, I’m not sitting here hoping to see a world class striker arrive. When Robin recovers we’ll be back to one. Then, we’ll need to wait and see if we can grow another.
i am really excited about the prospect of Chamakh joining.
quite a few of my friends are from france and follow Ligue 1, to a man they say he is fantastic, he does not score goals but the team will score more with him in it – the teams plays around him. strong, technically adept, fantastic in the air.
could be good.
Just thinking out loud, Mean.
1. It makes 4-4-2 a viable option for us again.
2. Holland have no qualms about playing van Persie out wide, and I imagine we wouldn’t.
3. Chances of them both being fit for fifty plus games is somewhere barely north of zero, sadly.
If this comes to pass, it surely means the next few months are make-or-break time for a certain Nicolas Bendtner, at least for the central position in the 4-3-3?
He’s a player I admire, and when he’s Chamakh’s age I think he’ll be awesome, let’s just hope that he steps up and takes his current opportunity in the first team.
I wouldn’t mind if he comes either. I took the time to watch him play after all the talk last summer and I could see him fitting quite well in this team. VP would most likely still be first choice, but given our injury record, having another player who can play that focal point in the front 3, who is good in the air is worth having. If by some miracle we have a completely fit squad, it gives Arsene options for different games as well as options to rest players and the ability to put out stronger teams for the lesser competitions.
Here are his stats ‘Holic (although I know you’re not big on them and will put more on your own/your mate’s valuation of the player).
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=84609&cc=5901
96 starts since 2006. 26 goals and 13 assists.
As someone above indicated, it’s equally important that he can lead the line. That’s what we’re missing at the moment. It’s what’s been at the root of some of the recent “tippy tappy”.
Off to celebrate the Lunar New Year with some Chinese Gooners tonight. “Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot…….”
`Holic, not sure about that bit:
“Now when we baulked at paying an eight figure fee for him last summer we had the prospect of van Persie, Bendtner, Eduardo, Vela, and Walcott to compete for the striking roles. The fitness issues that affected all of them could not reasonably have been foreseen.”
Actually they were some voices muttering that RvP was made of glass.
Anyhow my point is that we can’t complain too loudly about our strikers injuries if you consider that Gallas (in what is arguably his best season ever) and Vermaelen has been fully available this season. If our CBs had been injured like our strikers (which is what happened to United) we would have been hit much harder.
So on one hand you could argue we’ve been unlucky with the strikers injuries but I think we have been very very lucky so far with Gallas and Vermaelen’s form.
BtM, please stop mentioning Babel. You are making me twitchier than the alleged tax-dodger 😉
Passenal, I would be surprised if next season we stuck as rigidly to the fabled 4-3-3 as this, particularly against strong opponents.
Matt, take the point about vanPersie, but the other four as well? And now Arshavin as well? We have been desperately unlucky in the extreme.
You could be right about the 4-3-3 ‘holic although it does seem to suit Cesc and the team is built around him. But the more options we have up front allows us to play 4-3-3, 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 dependent upon the opposition. Losing VP and Bendtner to injury really restricted our options at times recently.
No matter what happens, on big games we need to switch our 4-1-2-3 formation to 4-2-1-3. This still allows fabregas to roam free, but also allows us to have an extra man to defend when we lose possession.
Cham would be a good addition Bendy is getting to that age where his body is in its final growth spurt so I imagine he will pick more injuries, and VP will get injured for at least four months.
I also reckon that Babel would be a good buy, he is a Theo Walcott but closer to the finished article, especially on the cheap and with pace on both flanks of a 433, adds a different string to our bow. Plus I do like how explosive he is.
Wenger has given Diaby the kiss of death.. he has said he is improving… cue Diaby injury!
I know he isn’t a prolific goalscorer, but I did read somewhere that he’s scored the most headed goals in the UCL. Or the most headers in Europe. Or something along those lines. I’m guessing he is being brought in not as back up to Van Persie but as a squad player for the bigger teams. Saying that, it’s all speculation. Arsene could be turning him into a spare centre half for all we know. Or even the physio!
——————-SORENSEN——————–
Sagna——Gallas——Vermaelen—–Clichy
———————-Song————————
———–Fabregas—–Arshavin————–
–Bendtner————————CHAMAKH—
——————-Van Persie——————–
SUBS: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, FELLAINI, Diaby, Nasri, Eduardo
…….My mouth is watering! If we were to get these signings, we would be a force in all competitions. 4-3-3 can work against the strong teams if we have 2 DM’s good enough that we could put them together with a quality playmaker in front (4-2-1-2-1). We would also finally have a tall front line, with all 3 strikers over 6 ft! There would be so many options from the bench, that we would finally have the depth we have been lacking for a long time. And all for the price of 3 signings!
@MattH: No room for Rosicky in there then? Not even on the bench? He’s looking good in recent games, seems to have recovered from his injury woes – and thus we highlight the issue facing AW (and the manager of any half-decent Premier League side) which is to try to accommodate all his stars to the extent that they will feel part of the team and not start looking elsewhere for regular first-team football.
We can buy whoever we want, but how does the team adapt?
I heard in an interview with Phillipe Auclair that he’s the best header in the French league.
We can sign a pre-contract deal with him as he’s within 6 months of the end of his contract so entitled to talk to clubs – I believe this one and am well excited.
Imagine Arsenal with someone who can head the ball…now we just need a full back who can cross the thing!
Steady on Ian, next you will be wanting a midfielder who can actually kick people. 😉
Must admit that I know very little about Chamakh. I was only really aware of him when we became linked with him in the summer. My opinion is that if AW wants him that bad then I am happy to trust his judgment. I have read what you say about his goals to game ratio, but would love to know what his strike rate is in relation to chances? Again, I know little about the Bordeaux side but I am guessing that we would make far more chances for him than they do. Something worth considering?
I will check out some of the links to see him actually play when I have finished ploughing through the clips of BTM’s love child.
Keep the faith.
@11 Hi Matt – Good evening. I agree that Gallas and Vermaelen have had a superb injury free season.
We weren’t exactly trouble free at the back though. I expected Djourou and Gallas to start with TV playing his way in to the team. Djourou, Cliche and Gibbs have all missed much of the season. Is that really any worse than Manure? Manure hasn’t had any significant problems up front.
Had they lost Rooney (I love ‘Holic’s “Fat sheep shagger” description) – they’d be down, out and Fergieless by now.
Funny that Fellaini has begun to feature as a target. He’s had some superb games recently. I could definitely see him in our mid-field.
Where did this FELLAINI link come from? I hace just checked The Sun on line and could not find it. That could be an interesting one.
Steve T – Funny!
BTM. I did post a reply on the last post re the Ade issue. Not sure if you had seen it.
@Matt
No room for Diaby in your starting lineup? I think we would be better suited more in this fashion, including of course, Chamakh. Also, for the sake of not slating Almunia I’ll just start with our back line.
Sagna———-Gallas———-Vermaelen———–Clichy
——————————–Song—————————–
—————-Fabregas—————-Diaby—————-
Arshavin——————————————-van Persie
—————————–Chamakh————————–
van Persie is our best crosser of the ball in the team, Chamakh would certainly benefit from his crosses as well as those from Arshavin. Also, has anyone heard this link with Philippe Mexes? If that went through I think besides the addition of Chamakh we would be pretty much set. I’ve always rated Mexes highly and he is extremely technically skilled to go with a fantastic, if not occasionally rash, defensive qualities.
Sorensen, MattH? Just shows how bad our goalie situation is when your mouth is watering from the prospect of seeing him in our team. I prefer having a talented rookie like Scznezny in the team than another good (but not excelent) keeper. At least any mistakes will be part of his education. Or find a nutcase like Lehmann. At least he’ll be more fun to watch than a self-accusing broken Almunia.
I don’t mind Chamakh’s stats. Ade-bye-whore had scored 2 goals for Monaco when they happilly sold him to us. Henry was as prolific for Juventus as he’s this season for Barcelona. Both couldn’t hit the net even if it begged them to during their first matches for us. Shrek hadn’t been prolific before purple nose decided to make him the falcrum of his attack. If Wenger thinks Chamakh can make the right movement off the ball, he knows he’ll get the service. If he’s confident, he’ll put them in. Wenger doesn’t get everything right, but he’s certainly a better judge of players’ potentials than any of us.
I’d prefer the following…..
—————— Lloris —————
Sagna — Gallas — Vermaelen — Clichy
—————— Song —————
— Fabregas ———— Nasri —
Arshavin ——————— Dzecko —
——————- RVP ——————–
Subs:- Schezny, Djourou, Gibbs, Diaby, Nasri, Rosicky & Eduardo
Wouldn’t mind getting one or two of either Joe Cole, Giovinco, Turan, Subotic, Balotelli or Hazard too……
For the GK, I think it’s a shame that Fabianski was injured when Almunia was and that Manonne got a run instead, not that he did not do well but there was no chance he would be replacing Almunia. If Fabianski had done reasonnably well given the chance, he would still be between the sticks.
I don’t really see the point of getting Chamakh in our team next year which is why I’ll believe it when the club will announce it. I have not been impressed by him nor his stats knowing that all the teams from the the bottom half of Ligue 1 would struggle in the Championship (and I’m nicr to Ligue 1 teams). One thing for sure is that Arsene knows best about the value of players. Perhaps is he lining Chamakh for when Arshavin will pull a Hleb on us?
Btw have you looked how well Jay Simpson is doing at QPR? 10 goals in 22 starts (+ 2 subs) is pretty good.
At this point we have more players than we can use. Don’t forget that for many of our players, one more year means a big step up on the performance ladder. Song and Diaby (Clichy, Flamini before them) are the perfect examples of what reaching 22-23 does to a player. The metamorphosis that happened to Song and Diaby will happen pretty soon to the current boo-boys Denilson, Walcott and Vela. Ramsey, Merida and Eastmond will be progressing too.
So please no new midfielder. We have already much more than we can use and a few very promising ones among the youths. We will have quite some unrest when everyone will be fit and we run the risk of creating Flamini-like discontentment because the players will feel they do not play enough. Merida is already in that boat and it would be a great shame if he were to leave.
@Hi Btm: Djourou was injured in April 2009 so he was not part of Arsene’s plans for the season. We had two backups, Senderos and Silvestre entering the season. I really like Senderos and I admire Silvestre’s team spirit but I’m the first one to admit that there’s quite a gap between them and Gallas/Vermaelen. A long-term injury to either and with our defensive frailties, the cost would have been far more than for the loss of our three main strikers.
As for United I’m pretty sure you would agree we have learnt by now that Ferguson’s team should never be underestimated. Shrek is surfing the crest of the wave right now but I’m pretty sure if he were injured that some other player(s) would step in, if only by fear of the old scarecrow.
gotta love the football manager lineups being thrown in here
also gotta love the lad who tried tobput arshavin… at CM!
Reading some of these comments im actually not surprised why wenger is in no rush to take on fans advice. I mean Dzecko on the left side of a 3 man attack when VanP is in the starting 11??? (woooooow). Even worse Chamakh on the left with VanP in starting 11. some of these sides are rediculous.
To be fear we could potentially be in trouble next season. Everyone has been paying to much attention to who we may get in attack (though we still have an abudance in VanP, Bendner, Vela, Walcott, Arshavin, Eduardo) plus Jay Simpson coming back (who is doig very well on loan) and even Sanu and Watt to come back. I’m pretty sure we may get Chamakh so thats potentially 10 attackers/strickers. Ok Jay, Sanu and Watt probably won’t get alot of playing time but thats still 7 attackers who will fill they deserve starting spots.
Midfielders another stable defensive midfielder could only help and would be welcome, but we have more than enough cover in midfield. (Cesc, Ramsey, Denilson, Diaby, Song, Rosicky, Eastmond, Merida, Wiltshire)
NOW OUR REAL PROBLEM. Don’t know if you guys have been reading but Senderous is out on loan and his contract is done come summer (so i doubt he’ll be coming back), which only baffles me why Wenger didn’t sell him. Add to that Silvestre has now become unrest at being continuously being left out the squad, yet alone starting 11 and now wants out (not that we would want him anyway), now Gallas doesn’t seem happy with the one year contract offered to him (and with AC Milan and PSV waiting with better contract) he to could seek greener pastures. Thats 3 of our main 5 central defenders which could be out come summer leaving on Vermaleen and Djourou (who hasn’t played in a few months short of a year i think). So Wenger going to have to find at least 1 WORLD CLASS central defender to partner TV (which could start upwards of 8-9mil) and at least another 2 who are capable of filling in when needed and offer some sort of competition. Right and left back though both starters (Sagna and Clichy) have been shaky this season they will stay. I only hope Eboue gets more games as I think he better going forward and can cross the ball which will be needed if we do play Bendner up top, or acquire Chamakh. I also hope Gibbs and Traore get more playing time much for the same reason as Eboue (though unlike on the right side, they all defend as bad as each other)
If it is true Wenger was looking to acquire a new goal keeper (something he himself has never admitted to) then Alumia could probably be off come summer as well.
P.S. I think we should sell Alumia and give Fabianski a chance. Send Mannone on loan and try Schezny as number 2. I don’t feel. We should go out and buy new talent without giving the talent we clain we have a chance to either prove themselves or go bust.
^^Good spelling
SEAMAN
DIXON ADAMS CAMPBELL COLE
VIEIRA
FABREGAS BRADY
MERSON MARWOOD
HENRY MCDONALD
SUBS *wouldn’t need ’em
GROVES ALLINSON DEVINE RIX JEFFERS SYLVESTRE
Morning ‘holic.
Well, this is interesting. Perhaps the earliest ‘pre-season’ transfer [speculatory] discussion I’ve experienced in a long time. I love it….although am left feeling a little bemused by some of the suggested line ups!
A few observations…..
1. Yes, I do believe we NEED another seasoned attacker….so the likelihood of our sealing the deal with Chamakh is exciting indeed. Cut the cake as thinly as you would want, but the truth is that we currently have only ONE seasoned goalscorer (RvP, who is injury prone). The rest are fill-ins at best and I suspect Wenger doesn’t have the confidence that they will ultimately become anything more than important members of the squad as opposed to dedicated/proven first 11 team players (despite what Bendtner will declare about his being the walking reincarnation of Ference Puscas or whatever). Compare that if you will to our two main rivals (Man Yoo and Chelski) and for me the point is abundantly clear.
2. We do not need anymore purchases in midfield.
3. We need a replacement for Senderos in defence and I’m pretty confident Wenger is well aware of that.
Keep on believing 🙂
holic, you say you know a french man that come over for the games. i bet he is a strange so and so
Shame on you Tim Merrick! How you could have the temerity to miss the huge talent that was Gus Caesar from that line up is frankly beyond forgiveness 😉
The only way Chamakh has been secured for next season is if he is the right player for our current system, pay structure, and squad.
I doubt that either Villa nor Dzeko could ever be realistic additions simply because of their wages demands.
The only other player I can see AW entertain (of those I know about) is Loic Remy, who is friends with Diaby, Sagna, and Nasri, and has expressed an admiration for AW and Arsenal. (Also, he’s pretty disenchanted with Nice’s supporters.)
Still over 6 foot, and only 23 to Chamakh’s 26, he appears quicker and more skillful than Chamakh, though I’ve never seen them run in a straight line together.
In a world free of unknowables I’d probably go for Remy, partly due to his technical ability and age, but also because Chamakh will be off to the CAF at inopportune moments in AFC’s campaigns.
But Dzeko or Villa? Dream on Gooners … not a snowflake’s chance in Hades.
Nice 4-3-4 there Tim 😉
It still seems absurd to me how the minds of others think. The papers tell us that a striker is the most important position for us to strengthen, so we talk about spunking all our funds on the likes of Villa while neglecting that Senderos, Gallas, Silvestre and Campbell have their contracts run out in the summer. None look likely to sign on for longer. We will be left with Djourou and Vermaelan as recognised first team centre halves. You could make a case for Bartley and Nordtveit and good luck to you on that one but even the readers of Young Guns don’t seem convinced about the Norweigan.
This is a team that, if I remember correctly, scored as many as the champions last year and have only scored one less than Chelsea this season, going months without a recognised striker. Of course it is a shame that injuries have taken their toll but the end of our trident is represented by players who have not yet peaked (Bendtner, van Persie, Vela having not yet hit the years Wenger called ‘peak years’ for a striker of 27 – 31 if I remember correctly). We score more than enough to win games even from a young age.
And yet from this position of insatiable attacking ability, we cannot capitalise because of our defensive fragility. A defensive fragility that no-one seems to be questioning or even pondering! Not only are we looking 4 centre halves short next season but Clichy has regressed dearly. Eboue talks like he wants out at times. Almunia can cut a very frustrating figure at times. Are we going to be saved by the likes of Bartley, Chesney and Gibbs? Well maybe, but certainly not next season!
Our attacking ability does not come from using wing backs in liability positions and if you cast your mind back to mid-week, Clichy looked much more effective when staying in position. To win the season next year, for that is all that transfer speculation can get us in February, we only need to do three things. Firstly, pluck James and Papa Bouba Diop from the land of free agents as easy back ups. Secondly, the Chamakh attack on a free will be helpful up front without being a drain on our resources. Thirdly, spend our available resources on Vidic or Chiellini, or ideally both. They both want out, they both offer terrific positioning and ability defending set-pieces and would lead our line immensely. If we can get a cheaper option- the equivilant of the next Vermaelan- then spunk all our money on Buffon who also wants out. (Either way, the good but ultimately flawed Almunia and Fabianski should not be here next season if our manager was ruthless). Imagine it, our centre halves as Vermaelan, Chiellini, Djourou, Bartley.
Of course though this is all speculation. And I would still be very fucking happy to see Villa come in. I’ve watched Bordeaux I few times and Chamakh has really impressed linking with Gourcuff- something I assume he will also excel with when it is Cesc. (If Cesc goes to Barca for 60m, Gourcuff is looking like the 30m Nedved to Cesc’s Zidane). But our defence is the issue. Never forget it. If we are to even contemplate winning titles in the immediate future, it will have to come from a strengthened back-line.
Jus.Marvel making some of the same points as I did 🙂 Glad to see some gooners paying attention.
One thing though- OMG HE HAS BEEN PROMINENT FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND IS NOW PLAYING REGULAR PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL, CAN WE NOT PUT T’s AND K’s IN JACKY’s NAME? Jesus, it’s Wilshere. Not that heard is it?
I have often thought that 4-1-2-1-2 would fit Arsenal when everyone is fit and injury free….. It could utilize all of our talents in the proper areas of the pitch and I believe produce goals. I know we use 4-3-3 now and 4-5-1 in Europe, but I really dig the 4-1-2-1-2 formation, any thoughts on using it?
Just a gentle pointer chaps, as you know text speak gets my goat. It really does. It’s lazy.
But, what is increasingly turning me into an angry man is EPL. What the fuck is EPL? Now read this very slowly.
Premier League.
We call it the Premier League.
We know it is English.
You can just say PL. We shall not get confused with any other Premier League as we are the only one called “Premier League” verbatim. We have sponsers, who from time to time prefix. Currently Barclays.
Unless of course you meant SPL and you can call that what you like. Heh!
Heh 74, very true.
Samuel. I don’t think anybody is ignoring the undoubted overhaul of the defence at the moment. The subject of the piece was dictated by the numerous apparent falsehoods being published about Chamakh at present.
However, how much sense does it make to get the striker many people feel we do need on a Bosman so there is still money in the kitty for a couple of centre halves (who we will be discussing nearer the time, I have no doubt)?
‘Holic – it’s just that my amorous advances were rebuffed this morning with the missus. So I forgot it was Valentines day, no biggy?
Just letting off steam. 😉
one person unlikely to be here next season is cesc fabregas. I love cesc, even to the point of photoshopping him into a family photo I keep in m wallet, much to the wife’s disgust, but the siren calls from barcelona are getting stronger and stronger. I imagine cesc sitting at home with two giant jars half full of marbles. Nasri or Bendtner trips over his feet when put through by a sublime cesc through ball – clink, a marble transfers to the barcelona jar. Wenger says a player returning from injury is “like a new signing” – clink, there’s another one. There’s an auction for a player’s services e.g. Chamakh but we don’t win it because of our “wage structure”. Clink. I think we know where he’ll be going at the end of the season. And we’ll no doubt be watching a large pile of cash at CM at the Grove, or they’ll scrap matches and we’ll be invited to purr and gasp at Arsenal’s financial prudence and sound balance sheet.
Just because we’re right up there with the number of goals scored means very little, it’s the ‘points’ column that’s important. So we could either tighten up at the back.. or get more strikers and just score more! Only need to score 1 more than the opposition to get the 3 points.
I think in most departments more players (more options) is mostly positive. At this point in time Denilson is probably not first choice. If he is going to be a good player, if he has the right mental attitude, he will work harder and prove himself – and give 110% when he gets his chance. Same goes for every player in the squad. If they want to just be first choice without having to put in the time and work to earn their spot, then they can go elsewhere (refer to Lassana Diarra – worked out for him in the end, but doesn’t always).
More experienced players can hinder the younger players development, but can also help. Teaches them to fight for a place, and by the time they get it they really deserve it.
Arsenal has been different in that sense recently. The lack of more experienced players and the number of injuries means there is less selection pressure than elsewhere. I really hope these young players fulfill their potential and stick together.
O why O why O why cant we buy a proven goal scorer ? Everyone knows Chanakh isnt a proven goal getter, have a look at his stats to prove this. However he is free so this makes all the difference in a time of financial melt down in football. All his short commings are forgotten. Is Arsenal a big club ? A. YES. Do we play some of the best football in the world ? A. YES. Have we won a trophy in the last five years ? A. NO. Just once Arsene and the board I think the fans deserve a big signing ! we have been very loyal filling Highbury and the Emirates week in week out. Sell some of the dead wood to buy them if you have too there is enough of it around.
Denilson. How dose this man get in the team ? He wouldnt be a regular for Stoke.
Walcott. Time is up my friend, we have had enough of you running into blind alleys. No improvment in 3 years.
Vela. Read above
Eduardo. Not the same player cliche I know but watch him he will pull out of a 70-30 let alone a 50-50. killer finishing not on show this season.
Traore. Would not even shine in the First division let alone the championship. Awlful player.
Almunia. Can not be trusted in the one place you must have trust.
Got to be 25 million there and Arsene must have 15-20 million in the kitty. All this dead wood could easily be replaced from are youth ranks, not that would be to hard.
Am I wrong ?
“…oh why can’t we buy a proven goalscorer?”
oh why couldn’t we have bought a proven goalscorer all those years ago, when arsene brought in this Henry character…?
🙂
The fans deserve a big signing?
Is that because Arshavin is only the size of Tom Thumb?
Spot on about needing to strengthen the defense 44Samuel.
Almunia needs getting rid of as soon as the season ends. Id go far as to say drop him now and give Fabianski his chance til the end of the season. I know hes a bit rash and has cost us a few times with his rushing out when theres no need. But that decision making will get better with playing time with the defence. Theres minimum 14 games to play this season so i say give him his chance. If we are realistic then wed have to say we arent strong enough to win either the league or the champs league. We should beat Porto and finish third (not good enough but i dont think you can expect more unless the sub standard players are shipped out and we are strenghtend in the areas so obvious to us) Therefore those games will tell us if he can make it now. If not then we could tell if hes a solid no2 and bring in a top class keeper he can learn from and get him to raise his game. – Id personally get Lloris. He reminds me of Cech. And we had the option of getting Cech way before he rose to the attention of Chelski.
Sagna and Clichy need to be played as full backs and not wing backs. Their starting positions needs to be deeper, part of a back four, playing behind the play and backing up the attack less often. They arent great with crosses or their final ball in the attacking third anyway so less is better when it allows them to defend from a strong starting position. Just having the back there makes us less likely to be cought on the counter. How many times have they both been absent from defensive duties by being ahead of the play unnessessarily? – Gibbs and Eboue are able backups with a bit more to their attacking games.
Silvestre needs to go. Sol will. I feel theres a good chance Gallas will too but we should do all we can (give him 2 year deal) to keep him here. Djourou needs to be fourth choice. Nortveid and Bartley can fight it out for 5th choice. Therefore we need a 3rd choice centrehalf that you would have confidance deputising for either Gallas or Vermaelen, with the intention of taking over as Vermaelens long term partner at the heart of our defence. Therefore a player of 23ish who has played plenty of first team games regularly and is of international class. – There are a few out there in the premier leage and in european leages too.
Denilson isnt a starter and should only be squad player. Ramsey has overtaken him in my opinion. Therefore id like to see a proper DM come in as proper competition for Song. – Cesc Song Diaby is looking like a strong midfield 3. Backed up by a new DM, Wilshire/Ramsey as Cescs understudy. Little Jackie and Merida are the backups to the backups for the attacking free role of the central 3. Ramsey can also do the box to box role that Diaby is starting to show hes capable of now.
If Chamakh comes in then front 3 would be
VanP – Chamakh – Arshavin
backed up by
Eduardo/Vela – Bendtner/Eduardo – Nasri/Rosicky
oh i forgot Theo – hes really got to get his finger out but wont give up on him yet – hes has the potential to play in any of the front 3 positions but something is yet to click with him – will it ever ?
Re Theo: I have always had my doubts about him. Okay, he’s coming back from injury, but the kid simply seems to lack basic skills AND smartness. He seems to have one thing going for him: Speed. And he seems to have one trick up his sleeve: Run faster than the opponent, hopefully being able to control the ball simultaneously.
However, he rarely is able to do both. And more often than not he seems to be under the impression that it is actually possible to run straight through defenders with (or without) the ball in his feet.
Don’t get me wrong: He seems a likable kid, I would love to see him succeed, and – yes – he is coming back from injury.
But apart from a few flashes (the run against The Merseyside Cheaters in the CHL match at AnotherField, to mention one), IMHO he never has shown any real skill or brains. Sorry.
Trond, its a long time between meals if Henry is brought up. P.S Henry wasnt a proven goal scorer when he arived. How ever he was within 3 years. The list I gave is not a record of sucess infront of goal.
Arsenal 1971: Hey, I agree with most of what you wrote. Point I was trying to make (maybe a little too tongue-in-cheek), was, however:
Chamakh isn’t a proven goalscorer, we can agree on that.
Neither was Henry when joining.
However, Henry netted 26 in his first season, not too bad a return from a “failed signing”, as he was labelled after struggling to find the back of the net in the first 8 games.
So maybe, just maybe, Arsene sees something in Chamakh that us mere mortals aren’t able to?
Maybe, just maybe, “Arsene knows” that Chamakh is the type, and has the style and abilities that will make him flourish in London, if not in Bordeaux?
History tells us that Arsene has hit jackpot more than once with “strange signings” (although, there are examples of the opposite!).
It would be fair to say that signing RVP was good business, despite injury problems?
It could be said that signing Ade was good business (he delivered quite a few goals and a hefty transfer fee when leaving)?
Then again: Is Chamakh joining Arsenal? Who knows…
I hope he comes, i’d love to have a fellow moroccan at arsenal it’d make me feel even closer to Arsenal having him there, that’s why i’m praying he comes
and of course cos he would be good..
he would be the new adebayor xcept he would give effort.
Holic –
Excellent article, I certainly think getting Chamakh on a “free” is a great way to go, provided he has the talent to be in the squad.
Several commenters mentioned as to where Chamakh fits. The one thing I have noticed with Arsene’s 4-3-3 is that he likes to have his best scorer in the hole. I expect RvP will remain in the hole even with the arrival of Chamakh. As we saw with Bendtner moving wide at the beginning of the season, all we really need is one target man in the front three – and not necessarily in the middle.
As for the commenters suggesting Arsene will desert the 4-3-3, I have to strongly disagree. Our best five midfielders all prefer to play centrally – the 4-3-3 is the perfect system to allow them to coexist.
Finally, Holic, I wanted to comment on your thoughts about a bidding war. Does Chamakh speak English? I noticed that Nasri is still speaking French in interviews. I wonder if that is part of the desire to moving to Arsenal – knowing a fair amount of your teammates speak French. Arsene is certainly an excellent cushion for the French-speaking players.
Trond piont well taken. Chamakh will he sign for us ? who knows. Wengers ability to find uncut gems is legendary. But wouldnt it be nice to sign someone who can hit the ground running and not talk of what they may or may not become in years to come. I just think it is time to sign 3 players who are proven which will inturn take the pressure off the not there yet players ( or never will be )
Afternoon Gents.
I don´t know all that much about Chamakh, from the little I´ve seen he kind of reminds me of a Heskey type player, but then with a few goals in him. But I´m sure that AW will know what he´s doing and where he will fit him in if he does sign him, and that is as far as I wish to speculate on this current speculation.
a special brew please barman.
Cheers,.
Just popped in to have a read and say hello
Hello
Good blog again Holic
To answer ‘holic:
“However, how much sense does it make to get the striker many people feel we do need on a Bosman so there is still money in the kitty for a couple of centre halves (who we will be discussing nearer the time, I have no doubt)?”
I think it has been proven again and again that there is a difference between what the public think and what Arsene (+ him being able to see players in training and a world class scouting network) knows.
What we have seen of Bendtner shows that he has all of the qualities of a top TOP class centre forward- he has just rarely shown all these qualities all at once. It has been suggested in many corners that he trains harder than anyone else at the club to get himself to the high standard he holds himself to and Wenger has not been in any doubt whether to start him up front on his own against the best in the world (specificly United last season at home!). Most of the calls for a new centre-forward have come during the only injury I think he has really had in his career, caused by Spuds. He comes back and suddenly looks the part, our front line looking sharp again. And this was his first start in four months.
There has been a lot of talk coming from the club about how wages are as important to the balance sheet as transfer fees are. It’s true. One up front fee to please the agents sure but we still have to pay players and then be able to give them a pay rise when Beyonce starts sending them dirty text messages.
A player on a Bosman is less of a risk than one who initially costs 30m. But do we need to take the risk? Bendtner looks better every time I see him. van Persie is world class when he is fit. Eduardo was actually scoring when he led the line, even if he looked out of form and has played the role terrificly for Croatia in the past. We have been told many times by Wenger that Walcott will eventually end up a ‘proper’ forward and even if his form oft looks shaky, I like to trust the two best managers of the past twenty years (Wenger and Capello) over the dissenting voices of the internet. Do we need to pay wages of someone who could potentially only be back-up to the back-up, soon to possibly be overtaken by those already here? Especially when those funds will desperately needed elsewhere, not only in wages but in transfer fees too?
Of course this is all speculation. I do not know the exact figures of the club bank account the same way I assume you don’t. I don’t know the players Steve Rowley and his merry gang recommends is worth the money the same way transfer rumour writers don’t. If Chamakh is deemed worth it, who am I to question it? No-one, essentially. But from the untrained outsider view, it looks like our money is needed elsewhere first. Our list of priorities should, in my opinion, be worked in order of importance. So let’s sign up Beckenbauer first, non? 🙂
no one of note is remotely interested in this chewbakka bloke. personally i find that disheartening as it smacks of us signing 2nd rate again
Of course my friends Chamakh on a “Free” is a misnoma. Especially if it’s about 16 mill over 4 years as reported.
If you haven’t seen him play before then hopefully he will feature against St Etienne at 8 pm tonight here…
http://www.tvoo.net/ch1.html
Merci for the link Holic’!
Also a good opportunity to watch Matuidi, who AFC were linked with quite a lot last summer, if my memory serves me correct.
…and he scores in fourteen. Listen to ‘holic 🙂
…and a great header in the 1st 15mins from Chamakh!
Fancy boots, surely Bendtner will get along with him?
Link works great…..of course he scores due to me scouting him – very nicely placed header from a FK 30 yards out – redirection of the header was quite tasty. Buy him…he scores every 13 min based on what I’ve seen.
If Chamakh is coming then either Arshavin or Eduardo is redundant and Vela seems to have no future at Arsenal anyway.
I guess Eduardo will be the one to go if it is Arsene’s choice but there are rumours that Arshavin is not really happy in London so he may decide to push off.
If Cesc goes then we may need Arshavin in midfield.
We will buy 1 or 2 centre backs.
We may buy a goalkeeper but I guess depending on Almunia’s form over the rest of the season we won’t.
So the line-up might be:
Almunia (another)
Sagna, Gallas/Djourou/another), Vermaelen, Clichy/Gibbs
Song, Diaby, Fabregas(Arshavin)
van Persie, Chamakh(Bendtner), Rosicky.
On the bench; Walcott, Nasri, Denilson, Eboue, Eastmond, Fabianski(or new), Bartley/Nordtveit/new cb.
Hey, I have an idea, let buy every perceived good player out there, win titles, go broke,get bought out by a rich investor, buy some more great players, owner leaves,go broke, get relegated. Yep, Sounds cheery..guys, Chamakh comes, his stats will improve, he is technically sound and we will finally have someone to turn in all those crosses we supply, plus he will have to get marked high, freeing up the midfield for the quick passing, slick moving Arsenal team.. Its a work in progress, but it will be one block at a time.. I think thats how you build successfully…
Vive La Arsenal..Joga Bonita
The CB situation has me worried. Please Mr. Wenger, give Gallas a 1+ year contract. Surely he has done enough and deserves it.
Hey, if we can bring Sol back, then why not. Tis the season to buck the trend :))
A little flawed there brigi. The trouble with “one block at a time” is that as you lay one, two are slipping away. “One step forward – two back”.
We seem to go full circle. Keep coming back to Ade. Great business. But, not replaced.
And as I seem to keep saying – is 5 years long enough for “a work in progress”?
Oh and if it helps…Chamak in hindi means shine…lol 🙂
Wenger might tend to put up a 4-4-2 next season with Chamakh and Van Persie leading the line.
C1 Gooner – Heh. It does mean shine 😉
Who is this frequent Belgian traveller that you speak of?? 😉