Despite our recent good form we all realise key changes are needed this summer to add to our squad. Strikers IN >> Podolski, Odemwigue, Joel Campbell (back from loan) OUT>> Chamakh, Bendtner, Park, Vela We've been so lucky (knock on wood) that RVP has been able to play as much as he has because Chamakh and Park have been pathetic. Will Podolski sign and if so where we would he fit in? I've only ever seen him play for Germany and he looks quality but that doesn't always equate to league form. 26 is a great age to have someone added to the squad and I hope he can fill RVP's boots when needed or to give him a rest We MUST have another back up striker if Bendtner and Vela are let go along with Chamakh and Park. As we typically only play 1 up front and if we get Podolski that other striker would be 3rd choice. It might be Joel Campbell coming back from a decent loan period in France but if he's not ready we need to go an older expereinced striker prepared to play a bit part. Odemwigue and West Brom would fit that role, expereinced, knows the league, decent all round striker Central Midfielder IN >> M'Villa OUT>> Frimpong (Loan again when he's back from injury), Ramsey (Loan?), Diaby ?? Similar to RVP we've been lucky at how many games Song has played but at time he's seemed burnt out. The reviews for M'Villa have been stunning and at 21 yrs old he could be a huge signing for our future but we currently have too many midfielders just not enough quality. At the moment Wilshere, Arteta and Song would be the first choice 3 with Rosicky, Coquelin and Ramsey (?) as back ups (presume Diaby won't be fit yet again and Frimpong is out until October/November). To make the step up to challenge we need to strength competition for places so despite a cramped midfield I'd still add M'Villa for the extra quality it provides. Although I have high hopes for Coquelin and don't want to halt his progress. I think the good thing is Song, Coquelin and Rosicky can play in other positions so we should be ok Wingers IN >> Miyachi (back from loan) OUT>> Arshavin, Benayoun (return to Chelsea) Somewhat happy to start with Theo, AOC, Gervinho and Miyachi...none of these are proven consistent performers but there is great potential in all of them and the competition will help greatly. Would still love a bigger attacking threat like a Hazard but that seems highly unlikely and Miyachi and AOC have fantastic potential Defence IN >> Vertonghen?? OUT>> Metersaker??, Squillaci, Miquel (loan) Really not sure what Wenger would do here...Djourou just got a new contract so he's not going anywhere and he'd be 4th choice. Kos and TV have a decent partnership but there are rumors Metersaker will be sold?? He's looked incredibly slow and clumsy for the league even thought its his first season. I'd love getting Jan Vertonghen who sounds like he's going to be a better player than TV but can't see him being happy as back up or Wenger dropping one of the other 2. Like M'Villa it be a bold move for Wenger but a definite improvement Goalkeeper IN >> Jack Butland??? OUT>> Fabianski, Almunia We finally have a great No. 1 but need a decent back up...Jack Butland at Birmingham is getting some great reviews although Man Utd are in pursuit of him as well INS TOTAL = 51M Podolski 11M Odemwigue 5M M'Villa 22M Vertonghen 10M Jack Butland 3M OUTS TOTAL = 33M Chamakh 5M Bendtner 7M Park 1M Vela 4M Arshavin 7M Metersaker 8M Squillaci 1M Fabianski 1M Almunia - Free (who'd pay anything for him) NETT SPEND - Aprox. 18M
I think, and hope, that the Mertesacker story is BS. No need to sell him, every team needs strong options in key positions and with Merte, we've got some versatility. Denilson is another potential out although he'll probably go back on loan, which isn't ideal. I doubt we'd sign M'Vila AND Vertonghen although both would be nice. Out of the two, Vertonghen would be the best because he can play all across the back four and fill in for Song whilst he's at the ACON. M'Vila is absolute class but I'm not sure where he'd go, it would mean getting rid of either Arteta or Song in the first team.
dempsey instead of odemwingie and vertonghen instead of mvilla and i'd be satisfied with that list....oh and mertesaker to stay.
I agree with most of what you said apart from big Mertz. He has done well and will only get better. Hopefully he can bring some German efficiency to our defence next season! Definately would like to see Vert and M'Villa coming in. Our midfield would look like dynamite, not that it's bad as it stands, buti would be confident of major honors.
OUTS TOTAL ?? Chamakh 3M Bendtner 5M Park 1M Vela 3M Arshavin 5M Squillaci free Fabianski free Almunia - Free (who'd pay anything for him) I'd question what we could sell for !!
vela is doing well, at least 5M for him. park is south korean captain, gotta be worth at least 3M, especially as strikers are expensive. bendtner is still young and doing v. well at sunderland, so 10 M for him. chamakh at least 8M, as he's only had 1 bad season. arshavin maybe more, but he is old. fabianski is also good and young and worth at least 5M. these would be the going rates for these players in the current climate
To be honest we can win the title next year if wenger doesnt mess up this summer again. Presuming rosicky is fit next year and just crushes everyone like this last few months
If we sell Chamakh and Bendtner for a total of 18 million, I'll laugh my arse off. There's no chance of that. I think Bendtner will go for around £5 million and Chamakh would be closer to the £3 million mark as he's not had a good season for a while (since joining us), so teams are gonna be put off paying a fair whack for him. I agree about Vela though, £5 million seems fair as he's still young, and Park should get us at least £3 million (albeit I don't see us selling him). As for the signings in the original post, it would be nice, but we're probably not gonna fork out that kind of money for M'Vila, especially as our midfield has been playing well recently, Wenger certainly couldn't justify to himself £22 million for a player we're not in dire need of (especially with Coquelin coming through the ranks). Podolski will be good, Vertonghen will also be a decent signing, but I really wouldn't want us to get Odemwingie. Would much rather have Dempsey as he's much more versatile and an all-round better player.
IN: Podolski and Vertonghen. OUT: Bendy, Chamakh, Vela, Arsharvin, Diaby, Denilson, Squillaci, Djourou, and Almunia. This won't leave us short. Many of the players to leave used to have potential but never reached it. We have new young players with potential like Frimpong, Coquelin and Miguel who all deserve more chances. Wilshere will be like a new signing, and it will be hard to find him a place in our midfield with Song, Arteta, and Rosicky playing so well. We don't need a new midfielder because that would mean 2/4 not playing instead of 1. Oxo and Ramsey should be better next year too.
If Dempsey is available then that's a very good buy - will please old Stand Kronke with appeal for US based fans too. Would like to see an alternative to Gervino - I really haven't been that impressed with him. We need a very strong 11 to challenge which means seasoned pros who have a solid record. I really think Man Utd are in decline, and if City miss out they will be even more nervous come the end next time and Chelsea will not be any stronger, so I agree that next season will be a very good chance for a serious challenge on the title. Podolski, M'Villa - yes. Dempsey as well - definitely. Midfield - really need another SOng like player to cover for SOngs inevitable suspensions - he can easily miss 4-5 games with suspension.
from any other team id say theyd be reasonable prices we seem to have a habit of selling players cheap tho!
Why would anyone buy Almunia when he's out of contract? The only reason he's not gone beyond now is wage demands rather than a lack of ability. On his day he was a useful goalkeeper, hell, people were even touting him for the England no1 spot (some seriously!). A drop in form/injuries and a lack of confidence saw him go down our pecking order but we have an annoying habit of kicking people when they're down. What I'd like to see: Out - Almunia, Fabianski, Squillachi, Denilson, Bendtner, Arshavin, Chamakh, Park Out on loan - Miquel, Frimpong, Ramsey, Ryo, Campbell (this time Prem club) In - Podolski, Dempsey, Vertonghan + a backup keeper or some description... I think we'll get Podolski and do very little else..
I am a little less than enthusiastic about Dempsey. Good player where he is, but I'm not sure if he is the right player for Arsenal.
If all those players leave then we will need to bring in a few more players, also what about denilson returning from sao paulo. Also please tell me your joking about odemwingie, no way is he good enough for arsenal, he is far too inconsistent, better options would be hoilett or dembele. Also it would be better if we could keep mertesackerand buy vertonghen but get rid of djourou, makes alot more sense. Also is still don't know why we wouldgo for m'villa, song has been immense this season and with coquelin and frimpong we have young players that can step up when required bidding all the money for m'villa would be a waste imo, instead put it towards a bid for an attacking midfielder.
I don't want M'Vila. Save money, just use Arteta as a holding player, he's done it for most of the season anyway, whenever Song wanders off.
Agreed also. He wouldn't fit Arsenal. If we're going for a midfielder, at least get one that will improve the team.
Perhaps we have had a bit of a cooling off period. We have agreed in the past - we had a bad run there for a while.
Agreed - good season this year but he has been just good, not excellent, his whole career. Not the type of player who will help us win trophies in my view.
