I wrote this article on JA606 back in February, now that the season is over it seems more apt: Anybody out there still making excuses for Wenger's refusal to spend on the squad will have nothing left to hold onto if he fails to do so (yet again) this Summer. By having a quick glance at the squad, I reckon anything up to FIFTEEN senior members of the club will be moved on and if this club ever has any intention of competing for honours again, then at least half of them will have to be replaced. Arshavin, Squillaci, Fabianski and Mannone will all be available on bosman's in the Summer, so that is already 4 slots freed up in our 25 man squad. Andre Santos is also a 100% certainty to leave, there is no chance we will keep him now that Monrael has been signed, so that frees up a 5th squad place. If we can find buyers for Park, Chamakh, Djourou, Bendtner and Denilson then they will all be sold, no doubt about it. Should they all leave, we will have another 2 slots freed up that were not available earlier on this season. I can also see anything up to 5 more 1st team members leaving this Summer. I think Sagna is almost definitely off, PSG will take him. Vermaelen is another one I can see going, if we get a good offer (£14M-£16M), the club will sell, can see him joining City or PSG. Rosicky doesn't seem in Wenger's plans anymore, if somebody offers anything over £1M for him, I can see us selling, he has been linked with Everton quite a lot, wouldn't rule out an exchange deal with Mirallas. There is also the possibility that Diaby and Gervinho will go. I think if the former picks up another lengthy injury this season then Wenger will finally get rid. Gervinho leaving is just me living in hope. Come May he will only have 2 years on his contract left so I can see Wenger persisting with him rather than taking a big hit on the ridiculous fee we paid for him. Basically, there will be a minimum of 6 free spots available in the squad for new signings in the Summer. Our squad was overloaded with so much deadwood last Summer that we could not even add to it as it would have broken the rules, but that excuse goes out the window this time. A minimum of 1 goalkeeper, 1 center back, a defensive midfielder, a winger and 2 strikers should all be signed in the Summer, and that is just to add to our current squad. If the likes of Sagna, Vermaelen, Diaby all leave they will have to be replaced too. Oh and none of the youngsters like Eisfeld, Martinez, Frimpong, Miquel that might play more next season have to be registered yet so we don't need to worry about them taking up spots on the 25 man squad. Looking back at that now, I still think pretty much everything in that article will happen, although we will probably keep Rosicky for 1 more year and will be lucky to get double figures for Vermaelen. I also think Coquelin is 100% certain to leave now which is a shame because I did rate him highly, too bad he has a terrible attitude. I think we can all agree we need a GK. Not necessarily to replace Szczesney but to compete with him. Shay Given or Thomas Sorenson would be my picks. I think we also need a CB, we have been very lucky this season that our 3 CBs have stayed fit for most of the season and that we have not had a real defensive crisis, we cannot take that risk next season and will need a 4th choice CB, maybe a versatile one who can play across the back 4. I would like us to sign Toby Alderweireld or Mamadou Sakho. A defensive midfielder is an absolute must, yesterday showed it more than anything when we decided to start with a clearly unfit Arteta and then replaced him with a teenage winger. There are quite a few names being thrown around, the 2 players I would like to see us try and get are Geoffrey Kondogbia (although he may be off to Real Madrid) or Lars Bender (not sure but heard he has a €12M release clause which would be a steal if we triggered it). If we want to compete at the top then a DM is simply a necessity, it is a miracle that we have managed to finish in the top 4 without having one available for the entire season. Up front I think we need 2 top class strikers. It seems Jovetic is nailed on but for me he is not enough, he is not a goal scorer, he is more of a creator, he reminds me quite a lot of Arshavin actually although he is not as sloppy in possession. But we will still need a striker who knows where the goal is. Controversial opinion here but as soon as I heard Rooney wanted out, I said we had to do all in our power to sign him and funny enough since then, all the twitter 'ITKs' are saying that we have a genuine interest in him, that would be one hell of a signing if it came off. Providing we can't sign him, I hope we go for Tevez (looks like he said his goodbyes yesterday and only has 2 years left on his contract), Higuain or Benteke. Now, if we can keep our current squad together (Jack, Koscielny, Cazorla - HANDS OFF) and make the above signings then I feel with the top 4 of the top 6 clubs replacing their current managers and Bale possibly leaving Spurs, this will be our best chance to close the gap at the top and really compete for honours, and who knows, maybe win some. To be honest, I am not that bothered about us winning a trophy next season, what I want to see is the club to show ambition and initiative to go and win trophies. What has happened the last 2 Summers has been unacceptable and should it happen again then it is time for heads to roll.
Agree with all that. This summer really is the time to make a move in order to get us competing with the likes of United and City. It's now or never, especially for Wenger.
As I have said in two threads now, I can't see how Wegner will not spend. He has to replace between 4 and 6 players in the first team squad. He has not played many of the U21 team this year, although he might give one or two of them a chance next year, I just can't see them being listed in the first squad of 25. I know most people here think that managers go out and buy whoever they like, but the players in that 25 will be strictly allotted to the positions they can play. So it will be done on a one in one out basis. You get a pretty good indication who is coming in based on who is going out. Right now, I havent seen much news of a goalkeeper being sold, so I am not betting on us getting one. We are not going to keep on paying Mannone for just showing up to work. Either he is the 3rd choice keeper or he will be sold. Right now, Arshavin is the only forward leaving, so I think one striker is all you get, unless we sell Gervinho as well, and there have been reports. Coquelin looks set to go, so he and Diaby will be replaced. As Diaby will still be on the payroll, he might be one we need to replace from the U21s, a chance for Eisfeld or Gnabry perhaps. Finally, Squilaci is one definitely being replaced and Sagna as well, if he goes. So my bet is you will see 2 Strikers (I think Gervinho will leave), 1 midfielder, and 2 defenders (I think Sagna will go). And I think one of them will be a 30M deal, Wenger will want to make a statement.
True but there are rumors that podolski might leave as well and that leaves us short on the left side "if" its true, although i doubt it.. I genuinely still think we need a proper LW though. A player that will give us width like walcott does and cheap in goals as well. it something we've lacked for many many years. We definitely need a versatile 25-30+ goals FW (heard Jovetic is done deal, hope its true) A DM. (Could be another unheard French player) A GK (Dont know how true is the julio cesar rumor flying around) A backup CB (Ashley wont play as a backup, so i dont think he'd join us, he might join liverpool) I can only predict 4 players coming in irrespective of those going out, and i hope wenger acts this time.
Fabianski and Mannone are both out of contract this Summer, so one keeper will be brought in, Martinez will be 3rd choice. Djourou will be sold and Squillaci's contract is up so a CB will come in, Chamakh, Bendtner and Park will (hopefully) be sold so Jovetic and 1 more striker will surely come in. Remember that Park was Bendtner's replacement and we did not replace Park when he left last Summer. Song was not replaced last Summer and Diaby is finished. Along with Coquelin looking certain to leave, at LEAST 1 midfielder has to come in. That is 5 absolute nailed on signings that simply MUST happen this Summer, that is without taking into consideration that Vermaelen, Sagna and Gervinho may all leave and should be replaced. I expect Bellerin and Gnabry will replace 2 of them but I am hoping we will make quality signings to replace them, if the rumors of Piszczek replacing Sagna are true, I will be delighted. If that doesn't happen I would keep Sagna for 1 more year to give Jenkinson more time to make the spot his own, I don't like the idea of us just throwing him in the deep end, he has shown at times this season that he is not yet ready. @ArdentGooner, Podolski won't leave.
Good point about Fabianski's contract, hadn't noticed that. Mannone's runs to 2014 though. Djourou isn't in the first team squad. Nor are Chamakh, Bendtner and Park. Although they represent money, if we replace them with new players, we will not be able to play them unless they are U21. The only nailed on replacement spots right now are Squillaci, Arshavin and Diaby. (and Fabianski)
Djourou and Chamakh were in the first team squad at the start of the season though, if they leave we will have spots available to replace them. Along with Squillaci, Arshavin, Fabianski and Santos. That is 6 spots freed alone.
Gonna be an interesting Summer that's for sure. From Wenger's post match comments it seem's he is still unsure about what he wants to do. (the man truely knows how to procrastinate) I personally think we NEED. 1. Experienced GK Options: Julio Cesar, Begovic, Victor Valdez, Pepe Reina. 2. Defensive Midfielder Options: Victor Wanyama, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Etienne Capoue. 3. Striker. Options: Steven Jovetic, Gonzalo Higuaine, David Villa, Wayne Rooney, Lewandowski. We dont NEED but would be improve us further: 4. Fabregas - If Barcelona are willing to sell we shoukd bring him back. Arteta and Rosicky are getting on and Fabregas is a World Class midfielder. Right Back/or Versatile CB - Benedickt Hoewedes, Daryl Janmaat, Micah Richards, Lukasz Piszczek. I REALLY dont think we need tio sign any wingers/wing forwards players we have more than enough quality in those areas.
From his latest interviews it did seem like "more of the same" but who knows, he could be keeping it tight. He did look like he wants to set in his excuses early though... obviously he needs to be respectful of the current squad, but he can do that face to face with them and be more mindful of what he says in public. No need to reiterate his trust in the current squad and saying how "many teams are in for the top players", what does that tell to potentially interested world class players who expect Arsenal to break from the past and become more ambitious?
Eastmond has been released, gone to Colchester and Arshavin has said his goodbyes... latest departures.
Yeah but Monreal came in and took one. Then Jack and Jenkinson will not be U21 next year so they need a squad spot this year. Ox is still U21, but he is required as a "Home-grown" player. This is the point I'm making - we only get to register 25 players with the league. 22 for CL. No point in us buying players we can't play.
Jack and Jenkinson won't take a spot, they are not 22 until 2014 so they don't have to be registered, none of the young players that were not registered this year will need to be registered next season, also it doesn't matter if Monrael took Santos' spot, he was still registered to play for us when Monrael joined so him leaving still frees up a spot.
Santos is not currently in the list of 25 players, he seems to have been removed when we added Monreal. I don't see anywhere that the home grown rules refer to players being U21 only at the start of the season, so if we play Wilshere after the 1st January, he will need a spot. Same with Jenkinson after the 8th February. I can't see how we would sign a player we may have to drop for the run in, or sell in the January window.
The rules are that if a player does not turn 22 before the turn of the year, he doesn't have to be registered.
As Wenger said the most important thing now is stability. That is what we were lacking in recent years. Every season Wenger had to rebuild the team. And I am sure this is what he wants to avoid more than anything this time. If he keeps all the palyers he wants to keep, there is simply no place for new players. We have JUST THREE squad players to replace - Arshavin, Mannone (IF he goes) and Squillachi. All the rest - Denilson, Djourou, Bendtner, Park, Chamakh etc are not in the squad and they do not need to be replaced. So I expect no more than TWO new first teamers and a back-up keeper this transfer window. Probably one new player who will walk into the team and another one who will be fighting for a starting place. So I expect ONE marqee signing (hopefully CF) - IF this deal goes through. ONE solid player (hopefully DM) able to start/fight for the starting place straight away. ONE promising youngster - we already know who this guy is. ONE (cheap) back-up keeper if Fabianski does not sign another contract. IF Sagna leaves then Bellerin will be promoted as a Jenks back-up. And probably there will be a squad place for Gnarby as well if Gervinho leaves, which i seriously doubt
That's a pretty accurate assessment in my opinion. Also as mentioned earlier, Wenger will not want to bring in loads of new players as it will mean we've got to start building from scratch again. I'd expect one or two signings and a couple of promotions and that's about it.
At the start of the season we only registered 22 players (that list included Chamack, Djourou (H), Arshavin, Diaby, Santos Eastmond (H) Squillachi) Removing eastmond and Djouru and replacing them with Jenk and Jack (who don't need to be registered anyway) we replace the 2 home grown players and Monreal replacing santos. That alone leaves 7 players we can add to the list even if 2 of those players have to be home grown (arsenal or otherwise) that still allows us room to add 5 brand new players who don't have to match any criteria so there is more than enough room to add new players. So for me I would like to see : GK - Begovic - 15m 50k pw CB - Kyriakos Papadopoulos - 15m 50k pw CM - Fellani - 25m 100k pw ST - Higuain - 20m 100k+ pw WF - Vela (my personal choice - love the kid) - 4m 50k pw Total - 80mn Wages - 350-400k pw Sell/Loan (depending) - Squid (50k pw), Djuor (50k pw) , Arsha (70k pw), Gerv (60k pw), Cham (60k pw), Bendtner (50k pw), Denilson (50k pw), Diaby (50k pw) (proably others cant think of them) Raising - 20-30 mn Wages Saved - 430k pw Next year line up ----------------------Begovich / Wos------------------------------- Sagna/ Jenkinson--------Mert/Papa-----Kos/TV-------------Gibbs / Nacho ---------------Fell/Arteta-----------Ramsey/Wilshere----------------- ---------------------------Caz/Ros---------------------------------' --Theo/ Vela-------------Higuain/Giroud----------------Pod/Oxo NB - What I would love to see happen, not what actually will
Agree with the areas you highlight, disagree with the players you've picked. Keeper Begovic is the only good keeper you've named, and he's far too expensive. I see someone like Rene Adler being a good call, cheapish and still top drawer, and international calibre. Would be an awesome signing. DM Would like Maxime Gonalons or Lars Bender. Smart players who would fit our system. Bruisers don't work in our current system, we need a guy who can play a bit too. these 2 are very good options. Striker Robert Lewandowski should be our marquee signing. He has everything we need in a striker. His style of play is scarily similar to Robin Van Persie, in that he can score with any part of his body, but can also link play, and is a pretty good footballer too, he's also able to operate as a CAM/CF if needed. Dortmund did it a few times this season, Lewa playing behind Schieber. RB If Sagna leaves, we need to bring some quality in to challenge the Corporal. I like the link to Lichsteiner of Juve, he's top drawer, but even someone like Janmaat would be good, just as long as it motivates Jenkinson to progress further.
You do realise that when we loan players out the owning club are very likely to make a contribution to the players wages at his new club ? Wayne Bridge is on £100k a week at City, whilst on loan at Brighton City continue to pay £90k a week of his wages, now I'm not suggesting we are paying Juve £45k of B52s wages but I wouldn't be surprised if we're paying half and there's no way that lot in Brazil can afford to pay Denilson £50k a week, we'll be subsidising a chunk of that. We know there were some poor deals struck a few years ago and they're still costing us, only when the players reach the end of their contracts will we benefit from 100% savings. That said, it seems I'm a little more optimistic than others for this Summer, whether it's Villa, Higuain or Jovetic I can see at least one of these coming, I also think we'll get a GK, CB and DF, and I don't think Wenger will be bargain basement shopping again I think he'll look to buy known proven talent. But I'll curb my enthusiasm because I still think we'll fall short in the title, though CL qualification may be a little less stressful...
