Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla from Malaga. With his signature, Arsenal have completed the purchase of three of the top players from each of three top Leagues in European football. Moreover, estimates of the transfer fees paid for these three are around £35m and the salaries that each will be paid are likely to be in the high end of Arsenal’s salary scale: let’s say £13m per year for all three. Add in 10% in agent’s fees and suddenly, Arsenal fans are looking at an unprecedented total outlay of over £50m.
Last winter Arsenal suffered injury to all four of her fullbacks and naturally a string of bad results followed. Losses to Swansea away followed by a tight 2-1 loss to Man U at the Emirates, with center backs Johan Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen slotted in as emergency fullbacks, prompted much ire from the home crowd. After United scored the go ahead goal in the 81st minute, Arsenal were left stripped bare: a back line of Vermaelen, Koscielny, and youngster Nico Yennaris (second half sub for Djourou) and with Arsene Wenger moving his giant center back, Per Mertesacker, to center forward in a desperate attempt to get the tying goal, the home crowd stood there and watched in disbelief. And then they turned and began to chant – “spend some fucking money” – for the final 8 minutes of the game.
If you were one of those chanting, whether in the seats at the Emirates, in the comments on blogs, or on whatever social media outlet you normally use, you have to admit; the club have spent some fucking money and bought three Musketeers to add to our Arsenal.
Image courtesy TomanGraphics.co.uk
Already the chant has already turned from “spend some fucking money” to “get rid of the deadwood” and “pair down the wage-bill” because apparently some of us won’t be happy until we have a say in everything the club does. But I would caution against the cavalier attitude toward some of the players who are still squad members. Sure, the club needs to trim some fat but let’s consider the options that we have first, look at where the team has depth, and honestly assess the players before we start demanding their heads.
Squillaci is the first name that tumbles off everyone’s lips when asked who they would sell. But he’s 31 years old, has a bloated salary by most leagues’ standards, and hasn’t played football for a year. If Arsenal are even able to get him out on loan it would be a coup that makes signing Cazorla look easy.
Bendtner is another player everyone mentions and he’s even been left behind in London while the rest of the club is training in Germany giving everyone hope that management are working on a deal. But “Big Game” Bendtner is a player with a big salary, big problems off the field with alcohol abuse, and even bigger problems with his ego. There’s not even been a hint that he’s working on his personal problems so maybe he should be branded Big Risk Bendtner.
Even players like Robin van Persie who teams would ostensibly want after a season where he wins every personal accolade possible are finding it difficult to move. His salary demands, coupled with his injury record, and now his distasteful attack on the board and the manager have left other clubs hesitant to make an offer that Arsenal can’t refuse. Man City have come out and said that they don’t think a deal can be done. Man U have simply stopped talking about it. And Juventus is mired in a match-fixing scandal that threatens to unravel their entire coaching structure. I think Arsenal fans should prepare for the very real possibility that Robin is an Arsenal player next year.
And I want to say that I don’t have a problem with that. That if Robin apologizes, first in private to Gazidis and Wenger and then publicly to us and if he is stripped of his captaincy then maybe he would be a great addition to the squad and add much-needed depth. But I can’t really see him doing that. I can’t see him issuing an apology. I can’t see him humbly submitting to the team. And I can’t see him giving up the armband: by all accounts he loved being the captain of Arsenal. How on Earth could he be happy playing for the club after being so publicly humiliated?
I could spend the next 11 days before the start of the season worrying about all this. Instead, I’m just going to say that this will all work itself out. Maybe some deals will be done in the next 24 days before the transfer window closes and maybe some players will be around for years. Either way, for once, I’m not going to worry about how much so and so gets paid or why we still have that one guy I really hate on the team. Instead, I’m just going to bask in the sunshine of three actual new signings and a financial outlay the likes of which I haven’t seen at Arsenal.
So welcome Santi Cazorla, welcome Lucas Podolski, and welcome Olivier Giroud. Let’s play some fucking football.
You said it Tim! Now bring on the new season. My mouth is watering in anticipation of Wenger’s genius in lining up the new players
Well, the fact that the club sign those players on the cheap convince me to also trust that they will solve the outgoing problems. If we could sell one or two of Squillaci, Bendner, Chamack, and Arshavin, that would be a great business.
On to the most recent signing. I know that you have compares Cazorla with Mata, Arteta, and Song. But in your opinion, could he be the replacement of Fabregas+Nasri? And could he be compared to Iniesta of Barca? Adding evidence might be lovely, but not neccesary.
Niki, you can’t compare Cazorla with either Cesc or Iniesta, but you don’t win player of the year in Spain, when not in either Barca or Real if your crap. Spain have an undoubted golden age of midfielders at the moment, how they fit in with their new team is equally as important as stats.
I for 1 am really looking forward to kick off with or without RVP.
Thanks for your opinion.
I myself thought that they can be compared. Just like Mertesacker can be comparable to Cesc in their passing percentage for example. The difference is on the way we understand the game.
In my mind, i thought that Cazorla key pass and dribble can be compared to either Cesc, Nasri, or Iniesta on their respective attribute. After that, then we draw conclusion on wether they’re good because of their position, team mates, etc.
NP Niki, stats tend to ignore the human element of the game, vision, speed of movement and interaction with team mates, also whether they are up for it. It is one reason a new player should not be condemned in his first season for a new club. Hopefully Gervihno will be a good example.
Cazorla (and Sahin if signed) will restore a bit of our technical edge.
Recent signings have been a little more direct (Gervinho, Ox, Giroud, Poldy)
With Chelsea signing mids left right and centre (Hazard, Oscar, Marin, + Mata), and United looking to load Lucas to Nani (thanks PSG for adding competition), we will ahve to be wary of our midfield capability with this regard.
The other thing as I have mentioned before is we cover RW with Santi (and LW!). Ox and Walcott are still quite one dimensional and Santi adds craft.
But it will be a fantastic asset straight thru middle to have him and it will be a great plus to have someone able to hold the ball for us for those pesky panicky 10 minutes before the final whistle, particularly if the game is ona tightrope.
That Photoshop image makes the baby Jesus cry.
Cazorla! RvP can suck it. I think the Juventus deal is going to get done now.
Starting line-up against Sunderland, 4-4-1-1;
Sneezy
Sagna/Vermaelen/Koscielny/Santos
Cazorla/Arteta/Song/Gervinho
Podolski
Giroud
Bench: Fabianski, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Sahin, Diaby
I like, I like. I worry about our chemistry to start the season, but I see a lot of pace and power in the line-up, with the right degree of experience and guile. Very good teams will now be very afraid of the whole team and not just a couple of players, and that is a nice feeling.
that’s quite a line up
Seems an interesting line-up.. Although the lack of recognizable striker on the bench might be worrying. One of Podolski or Giroud might have to interchange. And if one of them become unavailable, that will be a blow.
I don’t think Sagna will be available, will he? I haven’t seen him in any of the training pictures, and my understanding was that he was still recovering.
I must say RB is a concern for the squad. Sagna is one of the best in the league, but if he’s injured? Jenkinson is an outstanding person; I’m confident he’ll always give 100% for the team, but he’s still very raw. Medium rare, I’d say. Coquelin is my preferred RB back-up, but that’s not his natural position.
I wonder if the club is working to fix this situation, with recent rumored interest in Van Der Wiel. That would be wonderful, and would make our team even more beautiful, but I find it hard to believe that a player of his caliber would sign only to be Sagna’s understudy.
The good thing is that these transfers aren’t “lateral moves” – these guys are each taking a step up to be at Arsenal. They should be hungry. Cazorla even said it was his last chance to sign for a big club. Three guys like that, who are already accomplished AND also hungry – will be nice to watch.
As for RvP, Rooney also had his very serious spat with Man Utd where he even threatened to go to City, and yet by now it’s all forgiven, if not forgotten. RvP is also now out of desirable options. If RvP reacts to the new situation as I think he will – as a challenge for him to prove that he is better than the men who came in to replace him – then even RvP could elevate his game, and attitude, next season.
You hit the nail on the head. Motivation is key.
A German international with 100 caps for his country, the top goal scorer in France last season and now, an experienced and talented Spanish international who surely would have won more caps for Spain had it not been for the exceptional talent of their current midfield. Not bad for a club lacking ambition and unlikely to challenge for honours, eh RvP!
Hear Hear Tim!
Great image and Very well said.
Three great new signings.
As you say:
Let’s play some fucking football
No-one should be concerned with “the deadwood” previously this was what stopped us bringing in new players. We have now brought in quality replacements regardless of if they are sold. If the inevitable injuries come our way we still have last years third placed squad. The best strength in depth I can remember in years. A happy day indeed!
Chesney
Jerkinson/Vermaelen/Koscielny/Santos
Arteta/Song/Cazorla
Gervinho/Giroud/Podolski
That is my starting lineup for Sunderland (with Sagna, Wilshere are absent due to injuries).
I think Gervinho would be use on the right since this is his natural position and we have Podolski for the left. Walcott, The Ox and Arshavin would be super sub to create impact after 65th min on both side.
We also have Ramsey and Diaby to cover for Cazorla and Song (Arteta should play in every game if he’s fit), Mertesacker and Djourou in case of any injury for our CBs, Gibbs and Jenkinson/Coquelin for LB/RB.
Imagine we have Sagna, Wilshere and Rosicky back. And if the media was right about Arsenal chasing Sahin and Van Der Wiel, then I’d be the happiest man on the world.
Chesney
Sagna (Van Der Wiel) – Vermaelen (Per) – Koscielby (Djourou) – Santos (Gibbs)
Arteta (Wilshere/Ramsey) – Song (Sahin/Diaby) – Cazorla (Rosicsky)
Gervinho (Theo/The Ox) – Giroud (Persie?/Chamakh) – Podolski (Arshavin)
Chamakh, a complimentary striker
Squillaci, a fill in CB
Arsehavin a stud who became a dud
Santos a LB who is a step up in class
Arteta who became better than we would’ve expected
Oxlade-Chamberlain, the future
Mertesacker is a keeper
Young was a step down from Vela
Now Wenger goes out does what we’ve never seen Arsenal do and that’s go out and spend money for not one, not two, but three big time starters at the same time. Wow. Where did he get the money all of a sudden is my question. I still want Sahin because we can’t have too many MFs.
Love that image.
I’m actually quite pleased the Van Persie saga has dragged on, because in my opinion we’ll need him for the first two or three games of the season. I mean, prior to Sunderland, our other main strikers–Podolski and Giroud–will have only played a part of one pre-season game. That’s hardly sufficient, and having Van Persie available will allow our new signings that extra time to adapt, get up to match fitness, etc. I’m almost starting to believe Van Persie already has a deal in place with Juventus that stipulates from our end that he remain at Arsenal until the end of the month. Sounds daft, but I’d like that to be true.
I find the latest Song rumors perplexing. Does he really want to leave Arsenal, or is this just Barca being their dickhead selves? Or both? I’d be quite sad to see him leave, as he’s a favorite of mine, but if I put aside sentiment, I can also see a more disciplined player being just as if not more useful to an Arsenal side that desperately needs to learn how to defend as a team. I can also see that this may explain our interest in Sahin, though I hope we get Sahin regardless of the Song situation. I can’t believe I’m even discussing a Song situation.
Anyway, fantastic signings, and we should follow Tim’s lead in praising Wenger and Gazidis for pulling off some truly incredible deals. Cazorla, Podolski, and Giroud for about £35m? Genius.
Sabin would be an awesome addition but 4 quality players in 1 window is surely being greedy! If he does come I would still love Song to stay, remember he can also fill in at CB if required and this is reportedly one of the reasons are interested.
It does sound greedy, doesn’t it? Heh. But, you know, Sid Lowe said last week that it wasn’t a case of Cazorla or Sahin, but both, and Lowe is reliable. Certainly, the Sahin rumors haven’t gone away. I live in hope.
I love shiny new transfers! Preciousssssss!
Hey all,
There has been a lot of starting lineups here that suggest that Giroud and Podolski will start. I don’t think that is likely. If we continue to play the same formation that we had last year, which is to say one striker, I think that only one of them will start, and that is likely Podolski. He is older, more experienced, speaks excellent English, and has had time to bed into the team longer. I suggest that Giroud will likely start on the bench as our striking option to change things late or if we need a tactical overhaul.
Everyone seems to think that Theo will start on the bench in their proposed lineups, but I find that doubtful as well. Say what you like about his constitency, but he did produce excellent numbers last year and is always, even when not producing, a serious threat who pins back the opposing full back with the threat of his pace alone. I also don’t think people give Diaby enough credit and my guess from the pre-season and the press clips is that Wenger has him nailed into a starting birth. Remember that new midfielders like Cazorla will need to become accustomed to the pace and physical play of the Premiership. Established (if oft-injured) guys like Diaby won’t and it is less of a leap of faith for the manager.
Assuming that RvP and Theo are still on the roster on opening day, and assuming their heads are right, I think we will see:
Szczezny
Jenkinson Vermaelen Koscielny Santos (assuming Sagna is not ready)
Song Arteta Diaby
Walcott van Persie Podolski
Bench: Fabianski, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Ramsey, Giroud, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
I suspect that Cazorla will force his way into that starting lineup, but he’ll need time to work out where exactly he’d be best. If RvP were sold, Podolski would go to the front, and Cazorla on the left, with Arshavin taking his place on the bench.
Just my thoughts on the early lineups. Things will get a real shakeup when Jack returns to full fitness. Then midfield is going to get CROWDED.
Cheers,
Jon
On 25 player squad limit :
Strikers – 7 ( RVP, Podolski, Giroud, Walcott, Ox, Gervinho, Santi)
Mids – 7 ( Jack, rosicky, Ramsey, Diaby, Arteta, Coquelin, Song)
Defense – 8 (Sagna, Jenks, Gibbs, Santos, TV, Koscielny, Per, Djourou)
GK – 3
I suppose if Sahin deal goes through we will be carryinga spare as insurance for 3 carrying injury currently.
I can also see a possible striker if RVP leaves. And the keper back up needs watching.
I agree that the start of the season will see more familiar faces than new, but if/when everyone has hit the ground properly, I can see Podolski and Giroud playing together in a 4-2-3-1.
————————-Szczesny
Sagna – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Santos
——————–Arteta – Song
————Cazorla – Podolski – Gervinho
—————————-Giroud
Personnel is debatable, but I think this makes the best use of our squad, particularly as I’ve heard Podolski dislikes playing out wide (is this true?). I’ve been impressed with Gervinho this pre-season–more so than Walcott–which is why I think on current thought he would get in there.
Also, I know everyone puts Vermaelen as a first choice (he probably will at the start of the season), but I thought Koscielny and Mertesacker looked a better partnership before the German got injured. Certainly positionally we were better.
[above was in response to Jon]
[Also wanted to add, Jon, that I agree with the idea of Diaby, and I know Wenger rates him highly, but I just have no faith that he is capable of playing a good run of competitive games. But certainly, based on how pre-season has unfolded, in the first two or three games, I believe Diaby will start. If he survives Koln, that is!]
Hey Bunburyist,
I appreciate your rationale on Gervinho vs. Walcott, although I think the manager will start with Walcott and not Gervinho based on his knowledge of the player, past history, Theo’s stat line, and of course his partnership with RvP.
Your team analysis suggests that RvP is not in the lineup, and is therefore sold. If that happens, perhaps it is possible that Giroud and Podolski will both get in the lineup at once, though again I think that not likely and instead an attacking midfielder will go where you have Podolski and Poldolski will go where you have Giroud. Obviously, if RvP stays and is not Na$ri in that he will actually, you know, try, he’s nailed on in the striker spot for me.
Lastly, on Vermaelen, you’ve raised a really interesting problem. I agree that Koscielny and Mertesacker have played well together and there are games (Stoke? Wet Hams?) where we’ll want the BFG and not Vermaelen. But if Robin is sold, and frankly, even if he isn’t – I think Vermaelen is likely to inherit the captaincy. How can you have a captain who says what Robin said? I captain a team here in Halifax and have captained others in Vancouver, and I would be stripped so fast if I said something like that. But if Vermaelen gets the armband, doesn’t that make him mostly undroppable? So we can’t consider him rotating out for the BFG or Kos anytime soon? Or do you think that Thomas has enough humility to allow a vice-captain like Rosicky or Sagna to occasionally captain the team in the games he is sitting out without bitterness or team disruption? Interesting dilemma.
Cheers,
Jon
Good point about Vermaelen. He has to be the captain after Van Persie, surely. Arteta would also make a great captain, but Vermaelen’s put in the time, and also shouts a lot, which people tend to like…
I’m a former Vancouverite as well. Left about ten years ago after undergrad at UBC.
Personally nominate Sagna for consideration with the armband.
The way he took the game by the scruff of the neck and put his money where his mouth was with Spurs showed great commitment and maturity to the cause.
Totally agree on the Kos Mertersacker partnership. I think they were the most solid barring those few individual errors from Mertersacker. Vermaelen is a little too adventurous for my linking. One on one I think Thomas Vermaelen is the better defender but as a defensive unit Mertersacker would fit in better with Kos
There is nothing unprecedented.
We spent 55m last summer.
This summer we are concentrating a little more on quality.
By my count Arsenal spent 1.21 gigawatts last season.
Yeah but we were using solar.;)
OTOH there is something to be said for keeping discipline with our price ceiling.
Once again Arsene has brought a quality player in at Arsenal Price.
Had we panicked and upped our ceiling prematurely, we could forget about this sort of healthy savings.
I think we have some ammunition left in the budget for another player if necessary (Keeper situation bears resolving) + if RVP does leave, most likely another striker. Sahin deal looks interesting too if it materialises.
For the first time in ages I’m actually excited about the new season with the addition of Giroud, Poldi and Santi. Even if RVP leaves we will still have a formidable squad although it will take some time for them to bed in.
Like some others, I don’t think Giroud and Carzola will be day one starters as they will definitely need an adjustment period. However, I think the game this weekend will give us a better idea of what the opening day 11 will look like.
When Carzola does see minutes initially, I think Arsene will throw him out on the wing.
Interesting, but a nice problem to have if and when Wilshere, Sagna and Rosicky returns.
Great news for gooners! Great observations, Tim, as usual. I’ve been most concerned about our lack of creativity in central midfield and so I am very pleased by this signing. Let’s hope that Sahin comes too and not just as a replacement for Song. That is a worrisome situation, but hopefully the Barca bating will end and Song will realize his best chance to continue prospering is with Arsenal.
Also, I must concur with your excellent post about Mohammed Farah–loved his celebration–prayerful prostration, slapping his head in disbelief, catching up his excited daughter who ran excitedly onto the track, and his humble and thankful demeanour.
I hadn’t caught his expression of sportsmanship and friendship with his training partner and competitor–I’ll have to look back on the footage; but that is real class.
I’ve known he was a gooner since his interview on ArsenalTV Online a couple years back; apparently he wanted to play for Arsenal as a teen before becoming a successful distance runner.
Best moment of the games for me, so far. Close second, Oscar Pistorius running in the semis–lots of issues and controversies, but let’s just celebrate his desire and competitive courage.
The worst, however, was the Canadian women’s soccer team being absolutely robbed versus the US. That ref was a joke and it never should have gone to extra-time, plus a definite handball penalty not given to the Canadian women on Rapinoe before the borderline call that gave Wamback her penalty kick and goal. Really undeserved victory for the US. Sinclair is an awesome player, must be the best after Marta. Sad for them, but they have to recover and try to defeat a very fine France team for bronze.
The time wasting call was very harsh on Canada. You can’t make that call there in a big game when it felt like she was taking her ‘normal’ amount of time to put the ball in play.
We’ve seen those PKs called when a turning player in the box extends their arm and gets an ‘inadvertent ‘ block on the ball. We’ve also seen refs wave those off and we’ve seen them missed by the referee. I’ll give this one to the ref because I wanted the US to win.
Rapinoe’s arm was into her body when the ball struck it in the box and so that was a good no call by the ref. On the other hand Tancredi I believe traps the ball on her shoulder/upper chest and gets whistled and I thought that was a bad call.
The ref was a joke from both teams point of view but we, the US, got the last laugh.
Melissa Tancredi who was on a yellow was lucky to have finished this game because she reminded me of Romeo Benetti.
“The worst, however, was the Canadian women’s soccer team being absolutely robbed versus the US.”
That’s true, if you conveniently forget Tancredi stomping the American player’s head in the box that went unnoticed.
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT
Melissa Tancredi is the new Elizabeth Lambert:
Would be a great cage fighter.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/olympics/story/2012-08-07/video-catches-canadian-melissa-tancredi-stomping-on-head-of-uss-carli-lloyd
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/day-arsenal-training-robin-van-persie-192143692–sow.html
Can we change our minds on this loan deal?
http://www.lionofviennasuite.com/2012/8/7/3226339/tranmere-rovers-1-3-bolton-wanderers-afobe-hat-trick-english-championship
Another top post with some excellent comments for yet another great read about the world’s greatest club. A lot of us agree that it has been brilliant business done this summer, in total contrast to this time last year.
Though some of the old problems seem never to change: another wantaway top player, others with no contract extensions and no defensive upgrades. Still it is clear that the we are readying for the season in much better shape than last summer.
The excitement is building with positive anticipation the way it should be.
I think Walcott and Song will definitely stay and we’ll have the services of RvP at least until the January transfer window.
In the spirit of all those silly cheerleader movies: BRING IT ON!!!
A lot of young heads get turned when Barca and Real come knocking. With greedy agents it isn’t always the players best interests they have at heart. As you are all probably aware Darren Dein is Song’s agent, so no favours there. Personally I can’t see it happening this window, but I could be wrong, who knows what happens behind closed doors.
Re a goalie, it is hard to see a sensible option, other than keep Fabianski as no2, if they are goodish like Lloris they will want to be no1, if not there is no point. Please don’t suggest Jack Butland as he isn’t ready yet.
After Van Persie’s ill advised letter I didn’t think it was like he could stay. A few days ago I ran across an article highlighting some of the garbage Vieira said when he was our captain. We kept him…Anything is possible.
He said “I do not honestly see Arsenal finishing in the top five in the league – and you can forget the Champions League.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-55834/Vieiras-Highbury-feud-turns-ugly.html#ixzz22ty6hkxz
It sounds like Llorente is on our radar if RVP ultimately leaves. Either way, if we get Sahin and/or M’Vila, then we have a complete squad for the first time in a few years. The biggest worry then would have to be RB (you could say keeper, but Fabianski is not ENTIRELY incompetent).
We’re not likely to win the league, but we’ll challenge. Oh, will we challenge.
I don’t think M’villa is on the menu, I get the feeling AW is put off by his temperament, he has had trouble with the law and rows within the french camp, but ability!!! Sahin on the other hand I feel is a definite possibility if they can sort out the small print, especially with the chance of CL, although Fergie is said to be interested.Time will tell.
I agree, and Sahin also has some other benefits over M’Vila. Assuming he is only a one-season loan, he will not overly stunt the development of Coquelin/Frimpong, who we know Le Boss has a high regard for (not to mention Wilshere). The risk is lower than getting a volatile player like M’vila on a long term deal. M’vila is also a fairly one-dimensional player (although he is very good at that one dimension), whereas Sahin’s style would probably be adaptable to a variety of roles in this team; this is important since the midfield is starting to look crowded.
Good post, Tim.
I also really liked the post on Mo Farah. Except for your final point — if there’s one thing Mo Farah did not do was behave for the team like a true Englishman — instead, he behaved like a sportsman, like a human being. An Englishman would have let Rupp go forward, for the team.
At least he would in Association Football.
Finally, a question about your 50 million number — you treat it as if it was cash sometimes, and it is not. Cash is not a problem for City, its outlay, ratios, cash flow, and the like. Your point the other day about last season was not about cash, it was about receivables: when Udinese were defeated, Arsenal could inflate its receivables, and improve its balance sheet, and hence take on more payables, in the form of Arteta, etc. Receivables don’t always turn into cash, but they can be borrowed on — I’m sure Arsenal is still receiving slow payments from Barca for TH14, and who knows when that bucket of tapping up slime will ever pay for Cesc. Especially given the financial state of La Liga. How valuable are Really? and Arselona if the rest of their league goes the way of Rangers?
I think its time to admit that financial fair play is already making an impact on football in England, reeling that nation back to the more stable realms followed in France and Germany. FFP may be another reason why Arsenal acted as it did last summer: first, until Cesc and Nasri were off the books, they weren’t, and from a P&L and balance sheet perspective, that was a drag on transfer activity, regardless of Arsenal’s cash balance at the time. Second, at least with Nasri, I understand the sale almost went south at the very end. I think the Musketeers are probably the payback for what we got for Cesc and Sammy: seems understandable that it would take roughly a year for all the cash flow details, assets and liabilities, to be straightened out to reveal a clear path to a responsibly run club.
Are you going to do a comparison of transfer activity amongst the Truly Big Four? If you do, don’t forget that Arsenal are not the only team blessed with LANS (not Local Area Network but Like A New Signing.) Arsenal may have Diaby, with Sagna and Wilshire coming off Injury Loan some time in the late fall, but City have their famous LANS, Carlos Tevez, United have Nemanja Vidic, and Chelsea have no one of bulk, more midfielders, a still slim and aging defense, and no one to replace Drogba’s scoring or impact.
When you think about it, Chelsea have placed an enormous amount of faith in Fernando Torres. He will get lots of chances, but if he doesn’t hit scoring form they will underperform. With the wealth of attacking midfield and wing talent they have bought, they could have used a Drogba type who will hold up the ball and create chances for the guys behind him, but Torres is not really that kind of player. Neither is Sturridge, who is known for his selfishness.
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-ee!
Who needs van persie when we’ve got podolskiii
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Who needs van persie when we’ve got giroooud !
Santi Cazorla, Santi Cazorla,
He’ll go a-waltzing through the defense,
with his goals and assists, with or without Robin,
Santi Cazorla will bring us trophies
(To the tune of Waltzing Matilda)
Here’s another one ….
He comes from Spain and he won us the game
He hates the Yids and he goes by the name of
SANTI…
SANTI CARZORLA
SANTI CARZORLA
(to the kinks tune LOLA)