Podolski Passes Medical As Hill-Wood Says "Arsenal Will Buy"

LUKAS PODOLSKI had a medical yesterday, paving the way for Arsenal to snap up the £10.9m striker.
Gunners officials travelled to Germany following talks with Podolski's Cologne club.

But Arsenal won't stop there and are ready to splash even more cash to reinforce Arsene Wenger's squad for next season.

The Gunners are ready to smash their record transfer fee – £15m for Andrey Arshavin – to sign £30m-rated German golden boy Mario Goetze, 19, from Borussia Dortmund.

“If we find the right person for the right position we are happy to buy,” chairman Peter Hill-Wood told Starsport.
“We have got enough to pay anything but silly prices.”

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Believe it? It won't be confirmed for a long while, but that level of news surely must have SOME basis behind it!?

 

I won't hold my breath.

 

I think we will go for Vertonghen, Gotze and Podolski, but it's just my opinion. Will these three players suffice?

 

Of course they would! But given our transfer activity the last 5 years or so I'd have to see it to believe it I'm afraid.

 

I'm in agreement, but I do hope and believe that the board and management have their sights set on some quality players for next season. Hope more than expectation.

 

If Arsene buys Vertoengen and shifts Djourou and Squillaci, our defense is well and truly sorted. But do not believe it for a moment. They may bid £16 for Goetze, just to say they tried.

 

I think essentially we need a top attacking midfielder and another defender if possible. Im not sold on Dujourou and imo should be sold. I think we have good cover in most positions now, especially midfield. Hopefuly Miyaichi continues his good development with Bolton so he should feature next year, and Frimpong returns well after his bad injury. Also I wonder if Joel Campbell will be available for us next season.....

 

Im with you on Dujourou and bringing in Vertoegen.

 

It's a shame it's become like this really. We should expect a couple of solid signings every season if our squad is looking as thin as it is right now.

 

No chance of Vertoengen coming in to be 4th choice CB.

I realize you are all down on Djourou, but he is the best 4th choice CB in the league. With Miquel, Bartley, and even Song able to play there we have more than enough CBs behind the first 3, all of whom would start for any other team in the premiership.

 

Actually im not too fussed about another defensive player, we have 3 quality CBs. We just need a special attacking midfielder and sign RVP up to a 4 year contract. Then we'll be ready for next season...

 

Podolski, Gotze and a new contract for RVP would be perfect. Wouldn't mind seeing Vertonghen as he is extremely versatile, and knowing what our injuries are like, he could cover CB, LB, and I believe even DM?

Also wouldn't mind seeing a new backup keeper, maybe Jaaskelainen or Al Habsi?

 

I don't know why people think players would move from a club they are starting games at to a club they would be on the bench for.

 

He is but then he is probably the only 4th choice cb who is rumoured to be on 50k a week.

 

SOURCE ???? or just a poor wind-up?

 

Vertonghen would be a great signing and a much needed one, in my opinion. He's a utility player. He can play centre back, defensive midfield and as left back. We need options like this, especially because Song may well go to the next ACON.

 

He is exactly what we need. We will have injuries for sure and we need someone who can play across the back four and a holding role in midfield. He also scores goals like Vermaelen and they are teammates.

 

We don't need someone who "Can" play anywhere. We need people who "Will" play anywhere. Vermaelen and Djourou "Can" play at full back, but that isn't good enough. We need specialist full-backs, not part-timers, it is a very important position for our system.

And whilst, I know, Song comes in for a lot of flak, I still maintain that in the Arsenal system our CB is not a traditional DM, we require more than someone who is just going to sit in front of the back 4. I'm not sure Vertonghen has the ball skills or pace to play in that role for us. I think Wenger has Oxo picked out for that job, as backup to Song.

 

Until our back4 become much better and calmer - we do need someone to protect them.

 

We could appeal to God. Honestly, we need the 5th man in midfied so that we win the centre of the park, we cant spare him to protect the defense, they will have to learn to defend. One of the things you have to watch out for at this level is trying so hard to help out other players that you don't do your own job.

I think Song's job is to tie up the most attacking midfielder on the other side, and help us win the "midfield battle". It seems to me like one of our CBs is marking the CF and the other is pretty much playing as an old fashioned sweeper. I wish I knew what you mean by Song "protecting" them. What exact responsibility do you think he should have?