Transfer Window thoughts, Wilshere's injury, Arsene banned for two games, Vermaelen to be sidelined for two months?
So, it's been almost five days since the end of the transfer window and the excitement of the dead line day. My one week leave are also over with today being the first day back at work (heck! I could have used another week).
The last four days, I spent the time with family and friends away from football, the reason for no updates on the blog. And considering that the International break is underway, I don't have missed much.
Today, it is going to be a bit of everything that has happened in the last few days.
First off, the final two days of the transfer window were the best that I remember in terms of signings for us in recent times. Five players having experience and quality were signed, a rare thing at Arsenal, which did somewhat make up for the summer of inactivity. The thrashing at United, however, still hurts and this does lead to the question why weren't players signed earlier? Also one wonders had United not defeated us the way they did, would these signings be made then? I know these and many other questions have been discussed a lot already. However, one cannot help why were we led into such a situation by the board and management considering we had three months to sort out all our problems?
Anyways what's done is done and cannot be reversed. Sanity was restored to the Arsenal board and management team after the humbling at old Trafford. I do wish now that this had happened earlier (on second thoughts, no I wish it had never happened, to painful and humiliating!)
The players that we have signed do bring something extra to the squad and certainly add enough quality and numbers to make us challenge for the top four. Benayoun and Arteta are both Premier League experienced and will greatly improve our midfield. Santos is also experienced and Mertesacker will add height and stability to our defense. Park, considering where he comes from will give nothing short of 100 percent. And all of these signings are winners having won trophies in different capacities (if I am not wrong!) All have a number of caps for their national teams and they certainly will bring stability to our team and the young player will learn a lot.
As for what can be achieved with the squad we have, we can challenge for the top four now and maybe end our trophy drought with the cups. If we can pull something extra, we might also be involved in the title race. However, for that, I feel, we will need to maintain a good run till January where we would at least need a couple of special signings. I am hearing that Hazard, Cahill and Yann M'Vila are still our priority. If we can manage that in January, I am certain we are in for an exciting finish to the season.
We, however, should not get ahead of ourselves. A lot of work needs to be done still. We need to get back to winning ways and close the gap with the leaders. We certainly have made a start in the right direction with these signings and with time we can add more quality to bring the glory days back to Arsenal (we still need to replace Nasri and Fabregas by the way)
Moving on, I am glad we did get to sell or loan out the dead weights at the club. I still, though, hope we get Henri Lansbury back, because considering such loan moves, mostly the players don't return. As for Bendtner, I am happy for him to have finally moved on, even on a loan. He was being wasted here by being used in the wrong position. What he said recently of not returning to Arsenal is justified in the sense that he wasn't properly utilized. However, in terms of quality, we are better off without him. I feel he will be a success at Sunderland which will in return prove beneficial to both him and in return to us, as we can get a better value for him in time. If we could have only rid ourselves of Almunia, Squillaci, Diaby and to an extent Chamakh, this summer would have been close to perfect.
Life, however, isn't that kind, always playing its joke when you least expect it. And in our case they are always the cruelest. After having a great first season, we are now going to miss our most talented player, Jack Wilshere for at least another two to three months due to injury. What started out as a rumor has been confirmed by Wilshere himself. Jack Wilshere tweeted this yesterday on twitter.
I can confirm I will be out for around 2-3 months! I am working hard in the gym to stay fit and I am gutted but I will be back stronger!
I don't know whether to blame lady luck, the Manager or our medical staff. This is certainly the result of playing a player over his limits which is completely avoidable. And then we ask why it is that our best players suffer long term injuries? And this has happened so many times now I am starting to believe it is more than bad luck.
It was Vermaelen the season before last. Excellent first season, injury in the next, out for a year. I just hope Wilshere doesn't suffer the same because voices raised now will surely have to be answered then.
In other news, UEFA again showed that they are a bunch of oafs. They do this every now and then just to make sure people don't forget. Anyways, Arsene Wenger's appeal against the two match ban has been dismissed by UEFA. The two matches ban was given to Wenger for supposedly breaking a rule that every other manger has broken in the world of football. I guess, I don't need to go over the rule and when it was broken. Wenger is now going to miss the Champions League group games against Borussia Dortmund, away, and Olympiacos at home. Our officials are also fined 10000 Euros for improper conduct. Below is the UEFA stamen that is available on Arsenal.com
"The UEFA Appeals Body has rejected the appeal lodged by Arsenal FC and Arsène Wenger against the two-match suspension handed to the manager in the wake of the English club's UEFA Champions League play-off first leg against Udinese Calcio on 16 August.
"Wenger will now be suspended from carrying out his duties at Arsenal's next two UEFA competition matches – the UEFA Champions League group stage games against Borussia Dortmund and Olympiacos FC on 13 and 28 September – in accordance with the decision taken by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on 22 August.
"The manager was awarded this suspension for not abiding by an earlier decision of the Control and Disciplinary Body during the Udinese home game – in which Wenger was serving a one-match ban imposed following Arsenal's final UEFA Champions League game of last season.
"The Control and Disciplinary Body also fined Arsenal €10,000 for improper conduct by their officials during the match against the Italian team in north London."
As for the International break, it continues in all its boredom. There have, however, been plenty of goals for our players. Van Persie bagged four, Park has had a hat-trick, Ramsey and Lansbury also ended up with goals. Chamberlain also impressed greatly. Possibly a sign of good things to come!
That is all for now. Swansea game is not far now and it will great to see how we line up against them. Good times ahead for sure!
p.s. While writing this, news about Vermaelen's ankle surgery are circulating that can rule him out for possibly two months. It is not yet officially confirmed but twitter is abuzz at the moment with this news. More on this to follow!
1 Comment	| Uncategorized	| Tagged: Arsenal FC, Arsene Wenger, Arteta, Benayoun, Bendtner, Borussia Dortmund, Chamberlain, International break, Jack Wilshere, Lansbury, Mertesacker, Olympiacos FC, Park, Robin van Persie, Santos, Signings, Sunderland, Transfer window, Udinese Calcio, UEFA, UEFA Champions League, Vermaelen	| Permalink
Park officially announced, Yann M'Vila top priority, We can still get Hazard, Vargas approached!
With the transfer day dead line just a few hours away, Arsenal is looking very busy to bring in the players required.
Yesterday it was all about the signings of Santos, Mertesacker and Park. Park was later in the day officially announced as an Arsenal player who will wear the number 9 shirt. We are still waiting for the official announcement of Mertesacker and Santos, which will be any time today.
Apart from that, as I said yesterday, we still need at least three more players. And the news that is coming in looks quite positive.
First off, chances of Eden Hazard to Arsenal looks likely after Joe Cole's surprise loan move to Lille. Metro was running the story last night that this move might pave the way for Hazard to leave Lille as they now have a replacement for him.
Although Lille is adamant they won't be selling their prized asset this season, I am certain that something close to 26 million might do the trick here. I really hope that this rumor does come to life as we really need a creative midfielder and Hazard fits the bill perfectly. Also, although, most clubs don't sell their best players on the last day due to not finding replacement, in this case Lille has the replacement. So I hope Wenger has one eye on proceedings at Lille.
The other positive news coming in is that we are in talks with Rennes for Yann M'Vila. They have put up a price tag of 30 million on him, but if we are negotiating, we can get him for around 25 million. Goal.com is reporting that he is our main target on the final day.
Also Sky Sports was reporting last night that we have made an approach to Fiorentina regarding Juan Manuel Vargas. He is a talented left wing-back who can play both as an attacking midfielder and in the defensive role. He is valued at 12 million.
At the moment, after the departure of Traore, we have only two left backs, Andre Santos, signed yesterday, and Gibbs, whose injury record is not great. So Wenger has all the reason to sign him. However , I have a feeling that we will first of all complete the other signigns that are far more necessary than him.
Meanwhile, SkySports also reported that we have ended our interest in Cahill after signing Mertesacker. Tottenham are now more likely to sign him.
I hope this isn't true because we really need another centre back.
That is all for now. More news and rumors are coming in which I will be covering later.
Before I conclude, I want to wish Eid Mubarak to muslims all over the world.
23 Comments	| Uncategorized	| Tagged: Andre Santos, Arsenal F.C., Cahill, Hazard, Joe Cole, Juan Manuel Vargas, Lille, Mertesacker, Park Chu-Young, SkySports, Yann M'Vila	| Permalink