what is the source for this story - seems odd that a player has a medical for another club during the season?
The article was in the Star today, and it's been reworded on numerous other sites. Star is a general tabloid, but they generally get news from Arsenal as Hill-Wood seems to give them lots of exclusives.
Xherdan Shaqiri had his medical at Bayern in February for a summer move. So nothing unsual there. Bild has confirmed that Podolski was checked by Arsenal doctors in Cologne (he was unable to travel due to commitments) http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/podolski/laesst-arsenal-einfliegen-23145014.bild.html The shirt suits him
We would certainly have a top squad that would be able to challenge on most fronts! But if we keep RVP, get the Pod and sign a top attacking midfielder, then it'll be a very interesting next season... As it stands, Man City have the best squad by a significant margin. They have probably the best keeper in the league, a solid defence, the best midifeld and strike force in the league. I mean, who can boast so many world class players in one squad - Hart, Yaya, Silva, Aguero, Balotelli, Tevez, Kompany.....Even their "non world class players" could get into most top prem sides. At present we only have RVP and Sagna that are world class. We have a long way to go to match their squad strength.
Of course but we're talking about adding three Top Class players to an already decent squad. FOUR if you count the fact Wilshere will be back. Wilshere is world class in my opinion- he will prove to be one of the best midfielders in Arsenal's history. Also if you count Hart as 'World Class' I would have to say Sczezney is too then. (and then there's huge potential with Chamberlain, Miyaichi and Campbell) I doubt we will sign all three but if we did... --------------------Sczezney-------------------- Sagna----Vertonghen-----Vermaelen----Santos --------------Song--------Wilshere--------------- --------------------Goetze----------------------- Chamberlain-------VanPersie----------Podolski Bench: Walcott, Mertesacker, Arteta, Rosicky, Gibbs, Gervinho, GK. Thats still leaving out Ramsey, Koscielney, Jenkison, Campbell, Frimpong, Miyaichi etc..
Saying that though, I'm not sure we need Goetze. With Wilshere and Chamberlain our midfield looks to be in pretty safe hands. I would be happy if we just signed Podolski and Vertonghen.
That is a very nice team indeed and i would think would have the capability to challenge for silverware. The thing with our team, we have a lot of potential which hasn't quite got their yet due to their inexperience. Players like- Sczezney, Wilshere, OXO, Miyaichi, Ramsey, Campbell, Frimpong, KOS, Gibbs etc all have the potential but have yet to get to their prime/full potential. Most of the Man City players have already got to the highest level and prime, including Hart, who is a couple of years ahead of Sczezney IMO. We are still 2-3 years away from getting into our prime as a team, but with players like RVP, Sagna, Pod, Arteta, Rosicky, Verm, Mertz, Song etc they should be able to make us more competitive now. Thats why we should buy an experienced attacking midfielder rather than one who has potential. We have OXO, Wilshere, Frimpong and Ramsey who will be our future world class midfield.....
Good post. Not getting excited till I see it though mate. Wenger might claim wilshire coming back is like a new signing and instead buy nobody except some 15 year old french prospects
I can't figure out how you have been able to calculate that Vertonghen is better than Koscielney, with such certainty.
I think you meant Arsenal4Life. On the topic, i think our defensive players are good enough. It's just the team as a whole needs tightening up organisational wise, especially when we switch off. Vertonghen would be a good addition but with Dujourou being given a new contract, that would be pointless now....
Not necessarily, with our injury problems all our defenders will no doubt get games.. Also, I still think Koscielney and Vermaelen are an unbalanced partnership. Both are good technical ball-playing defenders but Vermaelen edges it with his leadership and goalscoring ability. Both Vermaelen and Koscielney like to push up into midfield and it leaves us very open to the counter. Mertesacker is great positionally and in the air but he does lack pace and sometimes gets exposed(although that will happen alot less with Sagna back in the squad). In my opinion Vertonghen or Mat Hummels would be the perfecet defensive signing for Arsenal. They have a good blend of technical abilty, speed and power. The other advantage of signing Vertonghen is that he is equally as good as a defensive midfileder and would therefore add cover for Song.
Nope. I think our defeders are good enough too and I have no idea how good Vert is an never said as much. I think he is alluding to everyone in this thread who seems to be suggesting it.
I think this will be the summer that wenger does go and spend some serious cash, after losing the players that we did last season we have to go and bring in some quality players but i assume the goetze thing will run throughout the majority of the summer and especially with the euros etc i don't expect us to sign him until mid july at the earliest.
Not sure it's about balance though. When we concentrate and defend as a unit, we look very good. Just watching our last few games have demonstrated that. For example, when Song stays as a strict DM and covers the back 4, we look a lot more solid. It's when everyone starts charging forward and leave gaps is when we get punished on the counter for instance. Mertz is just a smarter defender who concentrates on his positional play. I still think we need to get a proper defending coach to sort this side of our game. Our players need to maintain intensity and not switch off. When we stop closing down and lose our shape is when things go wrong. If you watch Barca, they never just sit back!
