http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14717213.stm It looks like Arsene has inexplicably decided to cave into the enormous pressure and it seems they've signed Per Mertesacker, a 26 year old 6'6" German international CB who's just had an awful year at Werder Bremen, flirting acutely with relegation and calling into doubt his place in the national side. I've seen a few Liverpool fans on the board calling for us to sign him. Do they still wish we'd got him instead of pursuing Coates? And is this the missing link for Arsenal? Is anyone who has written them off since Sunday starting to worry about their sudden flurry of transfer activity? Does any of this matter since Arsenal will probably continue their bizarre new tactic of getting a player sent off in every game?
Nah, they still need to sign a decent goalkeeper, another CB and a CM/CAM or two. They needed strengthening before Fab and Nasri left, now they need to strengthen more. See they also got Park (striker) from Marseille, any one know anything about him? Not too fussed about that as I'd imagine he'd be backup for Van Persie...unless Wenger is going to use a 442
Makes perfect sense to be fair, their other targets were similar to ours IE Dann/Cahill, they were also linked with him more so than ourselves. Be interesting to see if he helps them stage a comeback sooner rather than later.Think hes a reported 8mil(not bad compared to Dann/Cahill valuations).
I wanted him for us, but I had mentioned during the Copa that Coates looked like a real prospect, but I did not think we would go for him. I would take Coates as he has a lot of potential and growth still in him while mertesacker would have wanted first team action straight away and doesn't have as much potential left really, he is starting to hit his peak. I would have been happy if we got Mertesacker though, but glad we are getting Coates.
They need to replace the gaps from Nasri/Fab but knowing Arsene he will rely on upcoming youngsters.Park was the striker at Monaco(whom i believe got relegated?), we were linked to him but i think more so because of the potential marketing of signing a Korean player.
I think he's a good player and wouldn't have minded him at Anfield. Think the fact that Bremen had a bad year doesn't always reflect on an individual player (remember Henchoz's last season with Blackburn before signing for us?). I do believe however that had Kenny wanted him then we'd have bid for him weeks ago anyway.
Well if Bremen is now a "bad" team and had a bad year, then a cheeky 7 million for Marin would be acceptable......right? haha. Would love to see that come off btw.
I'm not too worried about him going there to be honest. Never really rated him and often wondered why he got in the German side. He's decent aerially, but he's probably less mobile than Carragher. He'd do well in the Italian league, but he'll probably struggle in the PL. If Arsenal are able to spend all the money they've gathered this window, you'd think they'd be willing to pa that little bit extra for their main targets. Think Samba, Cahill and Dann would all be better for them.
I think he's just what Arsenal need. A big dominant centre back who is experienced. You don't get 75 caps for Germany without being a half decent player. Can see him and Vermalaen doing well against big strong forwards, but maybe struggle against the likes of Suarez, Aguero etc.
No its not enough. I would say Arsenal were healthy had they signed Fernando Llorente, Yann M'Vila, Eden Hazard and Mertsacker and Stefan Jovetic. They need players of this calbre. They are still unlikely to contest the top four.
