What probably hurts more is seemingly having the resources and players wanting/willing to join us and season after season we don't add the extra quality to make us go the distance. Here are (IMO) the 3 players we could sign to make us real challenges for a trophy; (1) Juan Mata 18-19M (Sell Nasri for 22M) = +3M Profit Nasri has had a disappointing 2011 and has looked the same preseason, he was excellent for first few months of the season but even then his assist stats are very poor (1 all season). Mata seems more direct and might be able to play in the middle, on the wing or in the hole and is the same age as Nasri at 23. If you think Downing cost 20M this seems like great business! (2) Romelu Lukaku 20M (Sell Bendtner for 9M+) = -11M Loss Vela and Chamakh have not looked the part at all in preseason and the only chance of us doing anything right now is if RVP stays fit all season - which he won't. We've missed out on other massive strikers like Rooney and Drogba without taking the gamble. Yes this kid is young but he has all the attributes we lack, strong, dominant, direct. I can't see it being a bad investment at his age (3) Phil Jagielka 15M+ (Sell Eboue & Cesc for 40M) = +25M Profit Excellent defender, what we lack as a leader and very good in the air dispite his height, I think he'd form an excellent partnership with Vermaelen. The rumors about his nee seems unfounded as he made 33 leauge appreances last year That's potentially a 17M profit and with Frimpong and Myiachi coming through the ranks and a fit Ramsey and Vermaelen we'll have 'a better' chance with that squad (although i still believe we need a left back but no Wenger will stick with Gibbs) Szczęsny Sagna Jagielka Vermaelen Gibbs? Song Wilshere Mata Gerinvhio Lakaku RVP
That's the trouble with Arsene. He seems willing to take risks when it's pretty obvious that overwhelming odds are weighted against him. Just like in January when he steadfastly would not sign anyone despite knowing that TV would be out for the majority of the campaign if not longer and that the defence was suspect. Both he and Gazidis who incidentally has been largely let off his share of the blame are quite content to haggle over a few hundred thousand here and there and lose sight of the big picture. This year though, the big picture is that there will be 6 teams competing for a CL spot so they need to ensure that Arsenal is not one of the two that get left out.
I definately agree with Mata regardless of whether Nasri leaves i'd like to sign him up. Lukaku is touted as being something a bit special but i haven't seen enough of him myself to have much of an opinion on him - if Chelsea are going in for him i'd like to see us bid as well. Not sure on Jagielka. Personaly i think we are better off going for Vertonghen to cover CB, DM and LB. And he'd likely be the cheaper option. I'd also say getting rid of Nasri and Fabregas for me is a definate no - shouldn't be allowed to happen. As far as signings go there is one signing that i think would be the mother of all signings. Kaka He's absolute world class, he'd fit in with our team, he can create those moments of magic that turn a game, his signing would show we have ambition, his signing would ease the relationship between AW/the team and the fans and his signing would mean players like Fabregas haveing to perform to keep there spot in the team! He is rumoured to be available (yes rumoured so who knows if there is any truth in it or not) for around £25 million which is within our budget to do. His wages would be very high and it may be a case of trying to negotiate him down slightly, but he would be well worth any money spent. Supposedly Chelsea are keeping tabs on the situation as well. He would be the ultimate Arsenal signing. (Could even go for £45 million bid and try to get Kaka and Benzema? lol)
For me we NEED three signings: 1. Centreback. - Subotic, Hummels, Mertesacker, Cahill, Jagielka, Sakho would all be decent additions. 2. Left back - This is the signing we NEED but probably wont make. There's NO way Gibbs will make through the Season without getting injured. 3. Juan Mata - Well we have more than enough small, skillful players but Mata is a truely World class player and would undoubtedly improve our team. With either Fabregas or Nasri (perhaps both) set to leave it would be worth splashing the cash and not letting this one go as Wenger has with soo many other failed signings. Would love to see Wenger bring in Benzema but unless Fabregas and Nasri leave on big money transfers it seems pretty improbable.
Home: ---------------------Steklenburg------------------------ Sagna-----Jagielka------------Subotic------Vermaelen Walcott------Fabregas--------Wilshere----------Mata ------------------VanPersie ----------------------------Benzema Away: ---------------------Steklenburg------------------------ Sagna-----Jagielka------------Subotic------Vermaelen -------------Song------------Wilshere------------------ ---------------------Fabregas---------------------------- VanPersie-----------Benzema-------------------Mata
