Torres - 50mn Carrol - 35mn Your move! In all seriousness January is not the best time to buy players but this year seems to have a decent link on players we need and who is available.
I see we are being linked to David Villa. Now that could be an AMAZING signing. A couple of years ago he was THE best finisher on the planet. If he's over his injury problems - it would be a stroke of genius.
Well seems the original rumour has come from the Spanish paper 'AS'. http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2012/12/18/primera/1355850219_998440.html Apparently both Arsenal and Tottenham have expressed an interest. There's plenty more on Twitter also. Would be amazing - such a classy player. Seems he's fully fit now and despite support from the Nou Camp, Villa does not fit into the plans of Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova and the Spanish striker is reportedly keen to try the delights of the Premier League. (he actually expressed an interest back in 2008) Who knows..would be great though.
With Cazorla and Arteta in the team, we have a genuine chance of attracting Spanish stars like Villa and Llorente.
David Villa to Arsenal in the January Transfer window would be one of the best signings we've ever made! Absolute class striker! He'd top my list ahead of Huntelaar, Llorente etc...
With respect I disagree, five years ago I would have jumped at the chance, but at his age, by the time he settles down to the premiership, he will be past it.
David Villa won't need adjusting. A world class player is a world class player period, he would be scoring goals immediately. It all depends on our aims really, if we our main aim is to win something, then we would sign him up for just 2 years and go for it. But our main aim isn't about winning something, it's about building for the future, whatever that maybe. I won't go into the financial side of things as that is just boring.
Na we're a bit oldschool in that attitude. With improved diets and treatment for injuries players are going for longer these days. 30 years ago the average retirement age was 33-34 it should be closer to 38 now as is the case with most other sports. For some reason Arsene does'nt seem to have accepted this though.
Whilst I don't completely agree with Toledo, he has a point about Villa. Players that rely on their pace tend to struggle badly when they slow down later in their career, Villa might fall into that catergory after a succession of injuries although there's a lot of skill to his game and I still think he'd offer a lot to any side.
I would'nt put Villa in that bracket anyway. It's a genetic thing - his pace will obviously start to wain but that might not be for a while. Also when he plays outwide his pace is more important, down the middle though its all about his sharpness in front of goal. Like i've already explained the 'lifespan' of a footballers career is now longer than its ever been before (and its getting more so) As a CF he's got plenty of time left at the TOP level. (Injuries permitting)
Wilshere, Ramsey, Gibbs, Jenkinson and Oxocube have signed there new long term deals - Walcott take note and sign up!
We tend to look at these players coming in a best case scenario. If Villa comes he takes up a large slice of cash, and he he will have no time at all to succeed. He is also a flat out CF when we have Walcott and Giroud for that middle position as well. I expect to see someone who can play wide and in the middle coming in, or possibly another creative midfielder so that we can push Cazorla up sometimes. We also need someone to give Arteta a rest. Everyone has leapt on Wenger saying we needed a forward/striker and assumed it was a middle player he was talking about.
