Transfer deadline is usually a quiet time for Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman more often than not gets his business done early by the time the bi-annual mad scramble begins.
But in this most disastrous of starts to a season Wenger knows he must deliver ahead of Wednesday's deadline or risk the rest of the campaign imploding all around him. Those who bet on the Champions League are already placing Arsenal as vast outsiders.
If you look on the bright side, you could say that things can't get much worse than a 8-2 defeat at Manchester United – the history books now tell us that. But what it also did was highlight the glaring deficiencies in the Gunners line-up. Well, to many of us we already knew where their weaknesses lay but Wenger now surely can't keep on stubbornly denying anything is wrong. I wouldn’t bet on relegation coming to haunt the club, but for a team that usually keeps such high standards, their recent fall from grace is alarming.
A defender is needed desperately, someone with some grit, determination and leadership. Wenger may want to build a team like Barcelona but even they have Carlos Puyol directing things at the back.
There is a huge Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas shaped hole in the midfield and with £60million in his back pocket following the sale of those two players he has no excuses about not finding a replacement.
Finally, a striker is urgently needed to provide back-up for Robin Van Persie. The Dutchman is a proven world-class talent but is too injury prone to be relied upon for a whole season.
Wenger though is notoriously - and I have to say to a certain extent admirably – careful with money and last minute shopping is exactly the sort of situation he hates being in.
Clubs, scenting a few extra quid, will inflate transfer fees, sensing the club's desperation. Will Wenger swallow his pride and cough up the extra cash required to plug the gaps? Or will he stubbornly prefer to keep what he has got in order to maintain his prudent approach to the transfer market?
It's going to be a fun 24 hours.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Barca finally get their man
Barcelona have completed the signing of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal.
The Spanish midfielder returns to his boyhood club after passing a medical and signing five-year deal worth an estimated £35 million.
Fabregas was unveiled in front of a large crowd at the Nou Camp and the Spanish and European champions have inserted a $200 million clause buy-out clause into his contract.
The 24-year-old’s transfer brings the curtain down on one of the longest running transfer sagas that has seen the Catalan Giants trying to sign their former midfielder for a number of years.
The Arsenal captain has been unsettled by the transfer speculation during the summer and has finally prized his way from the London club.
Fabregas, who leaves Arsenal on good terms, paid tribute to his Gunners manager Arsene Wenger after departing the Emirates Stadium.
He said: “The relationship was fantastic. I spoke to him on Friday to say goodbye and I got very emotional because he’s been like a father-figure to me.
“I couldn’t even talk at one stage when I wanted to say how grateful I was for what he has done for me.”
Fabregas could not be the only player leaving the Emirates this week, with the possible sale of fellow midfielder Samir Nasri.
The French midfielder has been linked with a move to both Manchester clubs this summer and could be on the verge of joining City.
Those looking at football betting tips regularly note how Roberto Mancini has been a long admirer of Nasri and has admitted his interest in the Gunners playmaker.
Nasri has upset the Gunners faithful after calling them disrespectful following chanting during the goalless draw with Newcastle in their opening Premier League fixture.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have been charged with failing to control their players during the game at St James Park.
The Gunners saw Gervinho sent off on his English football debut after clashing with Magpies bad boy Joey Barton.
Midfielder Alex Song has also been charged after appearing to stamp on Barton during the first half of the clash.
The Spanish midfielder returns to his boyhood club after passing a medical and signing five-year deal worth an estimated £35 million.
Fabregas was unveiled in front of a large crowd at the Nou Camp and the Spanish and European champions have inserted a $200 million clause buy-out clause into his contract.
The 24-year-old’s transfer brings the curtain down on one of the longest running transfer sagas that has seen the Catalan Giants trying to sign their former midfielder for a number of years.
The Arsenal captain has been unsettled by the transfer speculation during the summer and has finally prized his way from the London club.
Fabregas, who leaves Arsenal on good terms, paid tribute to his Gunners manager Arsene Wenger after departing the Emirates Stadium.
He said: “The relationship was fantastic. I spoke to him on Friday to say goodbye and I got very emotional because he’s been like a father-figure to me.
“I couldn’t even talk at one stage when I wanted to say how grateful I was for what he has done for me.”
Fabregas could not be the only player leaving the Emirates this week, with the possible sale of fellow midfielder Samir Nasri.
The French midfielder has been linked with a move to both Manchester clubs this summer and could be on the verge of joining City.
Those looking at football betting tips regularly note how Roberto Mancini has been a long admirer of Nasri and has admitted his interest in the Gunners playmaker.
Nasri has upset the Gunners faithful after calling them disrespectful following chanting during the goalless draw with Newcastle in their opening Premier League fixture.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have been charged with failing to control their players during the game at St James Park.
The Gunners saw Gervinho sent off on his English football debut after clashing with Magpies bad boy Joey Barton.
Midfielder Alex Song has also been charged after appearing to stamp on Barton during the first half of the clash.
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