Good morning, the first game of Arsenal’s 2012-2013 Premier League season is just a work week away and speculation continues apace as to who will start Saturday’s home opener against Sunderland. What should be a relatively simple decision for the manager is made complicated by a crowded international schedule of Euros, followed by the Olympics, and a midweek friendly combined with an open transfer window and at least two wantaway players.
The Euros alone would have delayed many players returning to pre-season camp but with Aaron Ramsey’s selection to Team GB for the Olympics, Arsenal find themselves shorn of a player who made 34 League appearances for the club last season. Aaron has a bit of a strained relationship with many Arsenal supporters and his absence easily dismissed by them but he was an integral part of the team last season and is a player who certainly could slot in Arsenal’s central midfield seamlessly.
The midweek friendly means that players like Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie will almost certainly be called up to have their respective legs kicked by players like Georgio Chiellini and, erm… Thomas Vermaelen. Meanwhile, several other Arsenal players have pulled out of the midweek “classic” owning to injuries and the German manager has given Podolski and Mertesacker the day off. Koscielny and Chamberlain have both called in sick and fingers crossed that they are only out pulling a Chelsea.*
The one player who might suffer most from this most pointless of international friendlies is Arsenal’s new boy Santi Cazorla. Spain are playing a friendly in Puerto Rico on Wednesday and Cazorla is almost certain to travel. Just to give you some context, the distance between London and Puerto Rico is 4200 miles or a 9 hour flight. That’s further than London to Seattle and even though the time zone is only +5, a trip like that with such a short turnaround wreaks havoc on your body.
Complicating squad selection further is the fact that Robin van Persie’s situation remains largely unsettled and casts a shadow over team selection. As long as he is in the liminal zone between Arsenal player and captain, and Manchester United player and cocksandwich his appointment to the squad on Saturday is uncertain. Arsene keeps talking like he expects Robin to be a professional and put in a shift if called upon but he would do well to remember the disastrous appearance Samir Nasri made in his final farewell to the club. Normally very tidy with the ball, Nasri was dispossessed nine times in that game and directly responsible for not marking Miereles as he bombed forward to get Liverpool’s opener.
It is possible that Arsene used that Liverpool game as a test of character with Nasri and after seeing what kind of person he really is, decided that keeping him would be pointless as he would “play” when asked but there would always be ironic quotes around his play. Could the boss do the same with Robin? Why not? He has backup strikers in Giroud and Podolski who could actually play play if Robin shows us what he really thinks of us. If he’s still with the club, don’t be surprised to see Robin lineup, with the captain’s armband, on Saturday. After all, if Arsene really wants to keep him then he has nothing to lose by playing him. As Orbinho pointed out this morning, Robin has five goals in four home appearances against Sunderland.
The other player who is unsettled at the moment is Alex Song and it’s to be expected when Barcelona bat their eyes at a player. I should qualify “unsettled”: Barcelona have started an all out player tapping up assault on Song in order to get him as cheaply as possible because they are both morally and monetarily bankrupt and Song, to his credit, has basically said “Barcelona are a great team and I’m honored but I also still love Arsenal.”
The thing about Song is that like so many players from Arsene’s “project youth” he divides opinion sharply. It seems that Gooners either feel like he’s worth a packet of shrimp crisps or £60m but the truth lies somewhere between. Song is an enigma. There is no doubt that Song plays as the most defensive midfielder on a team not really bothered with defense at times. Does that make him a traditional defensive midfielder in the mould of a Parker or Mascherano? No. His 11 assists, good enough for fourth best in the League and his League leading 0.7 through balls per game both belie his ability going forward. But he also plays deeper than a traditional box-to-box midfielder, often bringing the ball out of the backfield and leading Arsenal in tackles per game both in the League and leading all players in the Champions League in tackles per game last season.
What confuses me about Barcelona’s interest in Song is that he is far too careless with the ball for what I see as a prototypical Barcelona player. In League play, Song coughed the ball up 88 times for Arsenal’s opponents last season; Javier Mascherano only did the same 20 times. Mascherano also had a lot more interceptions, better passing rate, more accurate long passing, similar tackling numbers, and far fewer fouls.
Perhaps in the more regimented Barcelona system Song’s numbers would look more like Mascherano’s but only if he gave up on bombing forward the way he is able now under the Wenger system. It’s tough to tell because the systems may look similar to the naked eye but they are as different as classical and jazz.
Either way, I would be surprised if Arsene is ready to sell Song. There’s much still to be improved with this young man, not the least of which is his tendency to be caught in possession.
That’s it for today, there will be a By the Numbers season preview tomorrow and that means no post here. See you on Thursday.
*Terry, Lampard, and Essien are notorious for picking up injuries before international friendlies only to make a miraculous recovery three days later.
“..the systems may look similar to the naked eye but they are as different as classical and jazz”
Rings especially true given Cesc’s recent comments about adapting to Guardiola’s system, and even Vilanova’s.
I don’t think they’re after him now, but expect Barca to ramp up Song interest next summer after ‘wear and tear’ will bring the price down.
As a complete aside, I remember one of those van Persie home goals vs Sunderland. He dumped the ball off for Cesc who got fouled but before the whistle blew Diaby just lashed it into the top corner. Ref called it back and van Persie hit it in even harder off the crossbar. Murdered it. Then he didn’t hit another free kick for over two years.
It has to be said that The Argentine Sheep Herder, Mascherano played a massive number of games as a CB last season due to Puyol’s injury so his stats are a bit skewed… But I agree that Song would look a bit “lumber-y” in Barca’s midfield… although I thought I read somewhere they were interested in playing him at CB as well…
Anyway… Ramblings over…
I was there for that goal – feels like it’s been decades since Robin scored from a free kick,
“Pulling a Chelsea”, ha ha, like it Tim.
It is not surprising there are “injuries”, a meaningless friendly 3 days before the season starts. Who comes up with this schedule?
League managers certainly don’t want them. Btw Walcott is out “with a bruised thigh”
You have to laugh.
So wait, if Song’s too careless for Barca, why does that work for us? I don’t think Song’s going anywhere anyway. While I did say yesterday that 15MM seemed the fair price, I just read that Steven Fletcher sold for 14MM. Might have to re-visit my valuation on Song then. If Song stays, I’m really having my doubts on Sahin. If I’m Sahin, the whole point to leaving RM for the year is to actually play. With the plethora of MF at Arsenal, I don’t see the point of him coming here. He’d probably be better off going to Liverpool in all honesty. These next few weeks will be interesting. I’d bet money at this point that RvP gets sold to United, based on what I’m hearing. I also am in the camp that suggests Wenger wants to forgo the transfer fee and keep RvP this season, with the Board of Directors stepping in and overruling him. If we keep Song, re-sign Theo, sell RvP, and fail to get Sahin, I really do hope we make at least one if not two additional signings. Would love to see a versatile gifted defender (someone that can play RB and DM). Sounds, too, as if AW’s sniffing around another striker/winger. We make 2 quality signings in those areas, even after RvP goes (and hopefully after Bendtner, Arshavin, Chamakh, Squid, and Squillaci and…and…), I think we can compete.
Sabin would prefer The Arsenal because #1 we are the Arsenal #2 Champions League #3 Liverpoop midfield just as crowded ( with slightly more crap, but British crap).. Henderson, Allen, Gerrard, Adam, Shelvey, The Mongloid Spearing and then Lucas Leiva
Whereas Arsenal’s midfield has Jack, Diaby and Rosicky who are all missing time this season injured , Song who is going to ACN
#4 the opportunity to work/ learn under Wenger is still a draw to most players no matter how much Mourinho “respects” Rogers
#5 – did I mention we are The Arsenal
Sahin depends on us.
If we want him, we will beat Liverpool to it. As you say, no CL (I might add for 3 seasons running)
I find it hard to believe that a strategy hasn’t long ago been hammered out between the board and Wenger vis-a-vis RVP. They must have agreed on a trigger price for vP several months ago.
Actually, it’s not so much that he’s careless but rather that his turnover numbers get higher and higher the further up the pitch he gets.
For example, Jamie Carragher was dispossessed three times all season last year. Johnny Heitinga lost the ball just 8 times. And at Arsenal, Mertesacker had 7 turnovers but Vermaelen had 17. Probably because he gets forward more.
Shaun Derry is not a very good footballer but because he plays so deep for QPR he only got dispossesed 10 times. Same with David Fox. Etc.
Loads of players play defensive mid and rarely see the ball and sit well deep when they do get the ball that’s why Song has been dispossessed 55 times last season, he’s up there mixing it up with center halfs.
So, it’s a systemic problem with all of Arsenal’s players, actually. That’s what I meant.
Make sense?
It does make sense. Guessing Barca wouldn’t have him come up as much in their system. When Song stays back, he’s an absolute vacuum. He had some brilliant assists last year, but as you know, we gave up a ton of goals. Regardless of who is at DM, are you of the opinion that we should have our DM stay back more frequently? Particularly given our tendency to bring our fullbacks forward not infrequently? Again, I’d still be surprised if we sold Song, but maybe, like RvP, the board has the final say on outgoers.
Indeed, remember Yaya Toure virtually never ventured forward when he was at Barcelona. That’s why everyone was surprised when City played him in an attacking role, even though he was always a box to box guy.
Took Mascherano a year to settle but he eventually became their best CB. They can do similarly with Song – like Mascherano he isn’t good enough to be straight into their midfield but he can play there late in games, as a backup, and will surely be an excellent passing CB
There’s been a lot of blog / comment chat about Vermaelen taking over the armband if RVP leaves. Question: is he one of our top two best defenders? I don’t have the stats, this is why I’m asking this question on this blog! But my qualitative, not quantitative feel from last season was that Kos was our best defender and that Mert, though not as quick, has fewer errors in him and a better positional sense … thoughts?
Koscielny was our best defender last season and I think although Per committed a couple of noticeable errors, I think he was slightly better than Vermaelen. In fact, Tim actually wrote a nice article on how he (Vermaelen) was not as good as you thought he was aerially. Having said that I still rate him highly as a defender. I think Vermaelen is a little ill disciplined with his positioning. He tends to ‘bomb forward’ too much which leaves a huge hole in defense. Per on the other hand is more disciplined with his positioning which may explain why Arsenal as a team defend better when he is around. However, Vermaelen is the best scoring defender in the Premier League but more importantly why people recommend him as captain is because he is more aggressive and quite often people misconstrue aggressive players as good leaders (Joey Barton anyone?). Not that I do not consider Vermaelen a good captain, but just saying.
On Song…the matter is simple..
Keeping him for one more year will only make him command a higher price than whats on offer this year…Also we still have 2 years of contract left in him then, which not necessarily force our hand..Secondly, I think the kind of strides that was made this year with the signings and the like a new signings…one should be able think of Arsenal as a more competitive team than Barca…so things could change in a year..and therefore there is merit in keeping him.
Arsenal should not talk to Barca this year…for any amount for Song…
Captaincy matter, one of the main reasons is that Vermaelen can speak English and shows a lot more organisation and aggression in the game. While we are not short of leaders (Rosicky, Ramsey, Arteta etc) Vermaelen is a nailed on starter than any of them. RVP have to shut up and sign a new contract before he can captain full time again…
We are keeping Song and we can keep him.
Contract runs to 2015. This is a little premature on Barca’s part as usual (Call it tapping up):D
I think the question is not whether Vermaelen is one of our best two defenders, but whether he is part of our best defensive partnership.
Vermaelen is a cracking defender in the right context. In his first season, he had Gallas alongside him and it seemed to bring out the best in him. I’m not sure if he can really work alongside Kos though – both like to attack the ball early, but perhaps we need someone less aggressive like Mertesacker to cover. I think Verm and Mert would work well, since Mert’s reading of the game would complement him. But given Kos seems to be our top defender right now, there is a legitimate question whether Verm and Kos are really the best pairing we can have, and whether Verm should be guaranteed a starting spot.
People underestimate how good Song really is to Arsenal. The fact he bombs forward is a Wenger issue, not necessarily a Song issue. I really do think if you put him in another team and define his role, he is better than many of us Arsenal fans think he is.
I agree that Song is instrumental to us at the moment and it would be rather daft to sell him now, bring someone in at this late stage.
Had we been an iota serious about selling him this summer, we would have already moved for a player and brought him in.
At this point, Barca can keep stroking themselevs for another season at least.;)
Walcott has done a ‘Chelsea’. Thank goodness for that.
I would welcome Sahin but Mourinho would prefer he go to Pool probably because his chances are better at beating out all that British crap in Pool’s MF. Pool probably feel the same way
A couple of points, I totally agree with ArseChicago re board v AW for the sale of Van Persie, he is going to have to take a hit for the team on that one.
Song to Barca, this to me is a bit puzzling, the figure of £15m that is being bandied about, is for sure on the low side for a player of his calibre irrespective of his positioning, whose contract is until 2015. He says he is happy at Arsenal, yet there is no “out of the question” statement from AW. Hmmmm.
As regards another striker, if my memory serve me, Theo asked a couple of years ago to play as a striker. AW response was “possibly in the future”. Far fetched maybe, but remember the pacy winger from Monaco and Juventus, Oh how could anyone forget!!!
In today’s market, Song is worth at least 25-30MM EURs. He’s one of the most versatile CMs out there. He can play as CB, a holding MF, a box to box MF – whatever. Last week, in a penalty shoot out against Santos, he showed us he can even play as a GK! Xabi Alonso went to Madrid for 30MM GBP, Song shouldn’t be too far behind that. I’m sick of Barca’s player tapping up. Bunch of donkey dick smellers.
I have to agree with Tim here. Alex Song is not a traditional holding midfielder. He is more of a box to box midfielder. While we all talk about replacing Song with MVila. How about Song playing with MVila. That would balance things out. More like Gilberto and Vieira playing together. It certainly worked for City with Barry and Toure playing together.
I’m not sure if we have had a traditional holding type apart from Gilberto (and maybe the great pretender Denilson)
I never quite saw Viera as a strict DM as he always gave us value added going forward. Ditto Song.
Rather I believe where we’re at with the midfield right now is a sort of rotation of responsibilities whereby we have players who can be tough at the back but who also have talent going forward. Therefore to get the best out of them (and in the interest of our fluid game) we have to come to grips with having one cover whilst the other bombs forward when need be.
This to me (Systemic as TIm puts it) is what makes us more ‘unpredictable. It could be complete shambles if we don’t get it right or devastating when we do. Difficult to master but absolutely impossible to deal with when perfected.
With the likes of Diaby (He had a good 45 minutes dictating play and covering for Song when need be), we will more likely need to look at combinations that can keep hold on the defenisve side of midfield.
Coquelin is extremely promising (considering Song came good @23) and has a bright future but should at this point be understudy for the next season or so. Arteta does not have the grit that Song and Diaby (injury otherwise) possess.
Therefore I do think the reason why we were looking at Sahin (apart from the obvious fiscal benefits of the loan) was that whilst again not an out an d out DM, he has good defensive qualities but also adds someting going forward for us.
Had things gone well negotiating for a sell on clause down the line, he would have temporarily plugged the gap (in concert with Diaby or Coquelin) as cover for an injured Song.
Given that our midfield is maxed @7, Sahin would be an extra (covering our other injuries – Jack, Ramsey, Rosicky). With Rosicky nearing his 30th year in footy terms, it would make sense that Sahin would then be pushed up into a more offensive role in a year’s time if he was convincing for us this season.
The other issue with Sahin would be his technical skills. I mentioned before that Chelsea, City have strengthened tehcnically in midfield where as we have gone the other way adding more direct players (Gervinho, Podlski, giroud) of late. Santi restores a bit of techinical edge to the middle of the park for us as does the retur of “like a new signing’ Diaby. I do think we are in need of one more technical player there though just to hedge against injuries. Sahin fits well into this criteria.
not sure if the deal will go through of course so the other alternative may be a no nonsense type (MVila) which will free Song to go forward but Spurs have decided to come in and (typically) prey on one of our targets. have the no mind of their own?:D
Count me in the Song Supporters Club. His turnovers are annoying but he doesn’t often lose the ball in dangerous situations, and there’s no question he provides a solid presence in front of an unpredictable defense; he’s not afraid to mix it up when teams play physical (i.e. kick the crap out of us), and he can play the killer pass, not a bad combination for a guy who’s only 23 (?). Can’t see how we’d replace all that easily, but I’m not familiar with Sahin…
And while I hate to be pedantic…. oh, alright, I LOVE to be a picky bastard… London to Seattle air miles : 4,799. London to Puerto Rico air miles: 4,208. Your stats seem to be in pre-season mode, Tim…
This photo has inspired me to write a poem. I must admit, Joey Barton is my muse. http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2012/5/13/1336923611259/Joey-Barton-008.jpg
Can you believe Wolves turned down 12mil for Fletcher and are really looking for 15 and Man U opened their bidding for RVP at 15. I can assure you that WE are not the ones overvaluing our player but Man U must think we were born yesterday.
Breaking News RVP, Man U have just signed Angelo Henriquez, an 18yo Chilean striker. Juventus went all in on Llorente and Man City signed Rodwell. I don’t think anyone has any funds to sign a 29yo aged superstar striker whose sell by date is just around the corner. You made a bold public move that is blowing up in your face as your ‘suitors’ look elsewhere for ‘value’ buys.
I mentioned it end last season that we would be facing a striker rich market in the summer.
Therefore it would be hard to move RVP or if you like for him to move on if we wanted to keep him.
I think there seems an underlying sentiment at the club to keep him if the only option is a PL title contender. Hence the high valuation (correctly). Whilst Arsenal has been coy with bids/interest from City and United understandably we have kept mum to drive the price up offshore.
But with Juventus getting themslevs into another (predictable) pickle regarding match fixing, it would seem all options have dried up.
Our offer to him is therefore increasingly attractive by the minute.
and keeping him for another season is also another prospect. Whilst it may mean losing him for free and forgoing the existential benefit of an extra 20m in the kitty, we are in a strong financial position thanks to our self sufficient and careful spending, to take a hit in the interest of (say) ambition if need be.
It will allow our two shiny new strikers to bed in and offer us the service of a proven striker at least for another 3-4 months to January. Whilst there may be some fear that he will switch off, I would think that he will have to continue to bang them in given the fact that he will be that much closer to 30 shortly down the road.
OTOH, United may yet shell over 20m (I think the board wants 25m) for him and I am sure that we will give it some thought if that happens.
As and if he does get sold on, we should be reinvesting in one more striker. Otherwise we retain the service of a top marksman while settling in the other strikers for the next season, not entirely a bad option.
The dot com just posted that terms have been agreed. The Dutch traitor is moving the Manure. So disappointed in the man. Hope we get at least 20 million but think it will be more like 17-18.
24 is the reported figure
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/terms-agreed-for-van-persie-transfer
All we can say we hope Arsenal stayed their course and got the most money out of man U without any unsatisfactory compromises in the deal.
It is funny when you think that the mighty Barcelona could potentially field what was our core midfield pairing in Song and Fabregas. Barcelona finished 2nd with Fabregas in tow and I wonder where they’ll end up with Song added to the mix. One also has to wounder just what the mighty La Masia is actually churning out these days. Seems to me that Barcelona are now more reliant on the Arsenal youth academy that their own vaunted school.
Good luck to Fabrice Muamba in his forced retirement from the game he loves.
Well rvp has finally fucked off
Reported 24m for RvP from ManUre… hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha – awesome! I might be in the minority, but I think that’s a great deal for us on a 29 year old in the last year of his contract with a spotty injury record. And Man Utd needs midfielders, not more strikers.
What will we do with the 24m now? And is Walcott history now?
Gooners, friends…relax..
We had resigned to this long back.. the day the damned statement was made..
We knew next season we would be without Robin
Nothing has changed…
Arsene knows..
Remove that feeling from your mind that we are starting weaker..
that our best player is theirs..
A year back, when we lost our best player, we werent prepared, we didnt see it coming so fast. This time, we have seen it coming and we have done our best…
Just that we now know that we are not making a statue for Robin..
Just that we will no more sing his song when ever we want..
Just that we are thankful for what he gave us when ever he was fit..
and when ever he puts on that new shirt of his..
he will be like one of them…Just another prick on the ball…
Bye Robin, Love you for what you were…
So, if Song also leaves, and no one else comes, which I think will probably happen, does this mean we are not much stronger than last year?
Two steps forward, two steps back.
Ah, the joy of being an Arsenal supporter.
And I can’t hold it in me, I just have to type it.
Why would you sell your best player and your captain to fucking Manchester United???
How long will it take for van persie to be a bigger cunt than van nistelrooy?
” I love the club and I love the fans ” He is nothing but a fucking gobshite.
Not sure whether I believe all of it, but interesting nonetheless.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19179833
I thought I was mentally prepared for it – I really wasn’t going to post some some hand-wringing response, but in the end I can’t help myself. I KNOW the club have prepared for it through this summer’s superlative signings. But selling our best player to Manchester United? A year after we lost our previous best player? Really? Pragmatism has no boundaries in the modern world or did it ever?
The sooner we rid ourselves of this business and move on the better. I can only hope that the money from this sale buys us something worthwhile.
Actually a great thing for the Arsenal because:
1. 24 million is good business
2. Rid of unsettled player
3. No more conversation about who should be captain
4. Still time to buy additions, it seems like we already have them lined up
5. Walcott free to sign and get higher pay cuz he does not have to ” wait and see ” anymore
6. RvP is a bigger cunt than RvNistelrooy
Fuck off RvP, you will be never be the legend you could have been.
Glad RvP is taking his no-trophy jinx to ManUre. Now we are free to win
I see this sale as a win-win for the club. We get 22.5mil up front for reinvestment before the window closes. Another 1.5mil if Man U gets lucky.
When we let Henry go, his Pro-zone numbers were down and in 23 games he had 9 goals and 3 assists for Barcelona. That was not a great ROI for Barcelona.
Naturally we would like one our own to stay loyal and see out his Arsenal career and allow us to bestow cult status on him. Being an Arsenal legend must not pay very well these days. RVP at 29, injury ridden, and coming off a fantastic season wants to parlay that into one last big pay day after 8 yrs of ‘toil’ at Arsenal. No problem.
We have brought in 2 top notch strikers for less than the cost of a Berbatov, a Darren Bent, a Andy Carroll or even an RVP. That’s how Wenger rolls, that’s how Arsenal roll.
Ha ha ha ha I hate u yanky cunts,yid army………I think wenger gona hurt some young Afro boys ass tonight…… Hope some of u cunt top urselfs tonight
Dear illiterate Spurs fan,
Enjoy a season without Modric and no recognisable strikers other than Defoe.
You may even reach 8th! How exciting for you!
Cheers,
A literate Gooner
Congratulations to the USMNT for their 1st win in Mexico’s Azteca stadium in 75 yrs of trying.
Chicharito Hernandez couldn’t score because of an excellent Howard and a wayward point blank header off target. He must be hearing those RVP footsteps.
Cazorla scores for Spain against the mighty Puerto Rico.
Chris Coleman is a moron for hanging his captain Ramsey out to dry over the Shawcross non-issue. Like Shawcross could have saved the Welsh today.
I hope Arteta can play this Saturday.
Read more than a few websites these last few weeks with United supporters claiming van Persie is not a priority, and at 29, injury prone, etc., not a good deal. No doubt, these same posters will claim he is the key to reclaiming the title, and a stroke of genius by Sralex.
In theory, we’ve strengthened United, so we can only hope that van Persie reverts to type (annual long-term injury incurred in international friendly), or fails to thrive under Sralex’s system.
Song looks like he’s next to go. I’d be surprised if he’s an Arsenal player come Saturday.
We had better buy replacements. M’Vila? Sahin? Mirallas? All of the above?
Sahin to L’pool of the Europa League fame…
Mirallas to Everton
M’vila deal is off…remember?!
why are we still buying?!!?!?!?!?!?!?….really..why?!
I don’t see any need to buy until we get a few more guys off the book…
Song is gonna play for 4 months before he buggers off to ACN..hopefully Wilshere will be back, up and running then…
True, Song always ends up in Africa (when Cameroon qualify that is), I still feel we need at least one midfielder who is strong physical presence on the books for games up in Stoke/Norwich/other shit-kickers and not a perma-crock or a midget.
Like to see us bring in another midfielder with some “steele”, and all the other euphemisms that the British press love to use.
The question about the money being spent is a laughable one really Simple this:
1. If Wenger was an ambitious manager, in negotiations for RVP, he would have asked for one of Berbatov or Chicharito. Arsenal held all the aces. ManYoo were the oes desperate for a marquee signing, we didn’t have to sell. The problem is Wenger is not a football manager. He is a (rubbish) glorified accountant. Fergie is a football man. Wenger is a corporate money-grabbing suit. Remember that when Henry was sold, Rijkaard offered us Eto’o + £5 mil for Henry.
Wenger opted for a straight cash deal.
2. Wenger the mr anti ‘financial doping’.
Let me tell you somehing. Arsene Wenger is a big fan of PSG. And when they were in talks to be acquired, who was their main advisor on the takeover? Arsene Wenger. He pocketed a very respectable fee from Qatar for his troubles and did well off the shares in PSG he owned. Mr anti ‘financial doping’ advising a French club to be bought out by Qatar so he could make a killing. Fanc that?
3. Arsenal, yet AGAIN, are weaker than they were last season. It’s incredible really. Said this before and will say it again, Giroud is the new Andre-Pierre Gignac. Just you wait and watch. He isn’t very good at al, he is nowhere near a Papis Cisse let alone RVP. A strike force of the overrated Podolski + Giroud vs Rooney + RVP…pffft