Good morning,
Sorry for my three-day absence. Acclimatisation seems to have finally got to me, restricting me to become a passive onlooker.
Anyway, I'll start with the good news. Wheels of signings finally started turning, with Arsenal agreeing terms (both personal and with the club) to buy Bernard, a young Brazilian midfielder from Atletico Mineiro. According to the ESPN, Arsenal paid around £19 million to wrap up the deal. I haven't heard of the guy before, but with several prominent clubs sneaking around, we seem to have found someone of real value. Fingers crossed it's not made up by the reporters, and we'll see some confirmation soon. What's interesting, is that news of the deal started spreading shortly after Arsene said we were nowhere near signing anyone. He may have bluffed, of course. We all know, how he likes to keep things quiet when it comes to transfers.
While the whole thing with Bernard is wonderful (if it's true), the situation hides the fact, that two youngsters like Sanogo and Bernard are not enough for us to become competitive again. Surely, the Brazilian would be a direct enforcement of the first team, but he's only one player in, what is, without doubt, not the weakest area of the field. We still need a striker (a good one, ready to jump into the fray immediately), maybe a winger (especially, if Gerv leaves), a centre-back (a fourth-choice one) and a keeper, 'cause the situation with Fabianski is unclear, while Mannone, for better or for worse, is gone. Damien Martinez may be a decent third-choice keeper, but it's risky having him as a direct back-up for Scszesny. In this case, we're an injury away from the Argentine becoming our only option. Hope Cesar talk wasn't just talk, though I can't remember the Club's representatives (especially, Wenger) declare our interest in him.
Another problem, that won't go away on it's own, is striker shortage, unless Arsene decides to use Podolski in that position. Why he was restricted to around five appearances as the spearhead of our attack is beyond me. He was one of the best finishers in Germany, banging in goals left, right and centre. Now he has to play in a position that doesn't suit him. Wenger must have his reasons to prefer Giroud, or even Walcott, to Poldi. Maybe, it's something to do with fitness, or an ankle problem, but it doesn't look like the manager is keen to use the German as a sole striker.
Thus, a striker is needed. It's not only about numbers, as opposed to what Arsene said, it's also about quality. Giroud, our only striker, will never be Henry- or van Persie-good. He may score 20 or 25 goals a season, but a doubt it'll be 40. He won't be able to save the team time and time again, while it's also not good, relying on one man. We know that out of experience. As back-up, Giroud can be gorgeous and do wonders. Just look at Newcastle game. When a striker, a rested striker 6 feet tall and with Giroud's physique comes on 30 mitutes from time against tired defenders, the effect can be devastating. All that's left, is to find someone, who can torment the defense the other hour.
Suarez stuff rambles on, but he seems to have been put out of our reach with a £55 milliom price tag. Frankly, I don't like the idea of him coming to the Emirates at all. He's got some history with the press, he was banned for racism, he developed a taste for human flesh. He's a diver. Everyone dives, but the Uruguyan make a show out of it, clutching his shins and howling in agony. He places his own interests before these of the club. Besides, Suarez is also not as good as a striker, as this comparison demonstrates. He demands tha ball all the time, he's a lousy dribbler and his shot-to-goal ratio is, frankly, appaling. I say if we choose between him and Higuain, go for the Argentine. Even if he's a couple of million more expensive.
In other news, Santos has finalised terms with Flamengo and is on his way to Brazil. As I see it, the deal was done Denilsonesque way, so there no cash from this transfer. More importantly, however, the cleansing of the squad continues, with Santos being the seventh player to leave the Club this summer. Only Park, Chamakh and Bendther are left.
As for the man himself, it was, in my opinion, a right choice for him. He chose football over money, unlike the TGSTEL. The Brazilian could've easily clung on to his contract, content to show up for traininig and picking up his salary. But he went about it another way. He accepted that his stock has fallen and decided to move on. His time with Asrenal was short, he was never very good, though his gaity, along with a few memorable goals leave a nice impession. And screw the shirt incident. We know, who to blame for that.
That's it for today. Back tomorrow. Seriously
Sorry for my three-day absence. Acclimatisation seems to have finally got to me, restricting me to become a passive onlooker.
Anyway, I'll start with the good news. Wheels of signings finally started turning, with Arsenal agreeing terms (both personal and with the club) to buy Bernard, a young Brazilian midfielder from Atletico Mineiro. According to the ESPN, Arsenal paid around £19 million to wrap up the deal. I haven't heard of the guy before, but with several prominent clubs sneaking around, we seem to have found someone of real value. Fingers crossed it's not made up by the reporters, and we'll see some confirmation soon. What's interesting, is that news of the deal started spreading shortly after Arsene said we were nowhere near signing anyone. He may have bluffed, of course. We all know, how he likes to keep things quiet when it comes to transfers.
While the whole thing with Bernard is wonderful (if it's true), the situation hides the fact, that two youngsters like Sanogo and Bernard are not enough for us to become competitive again. Surely, the Brazilian would be a direct enforcement of the first team, but he's only one player in, what is, without doubt, not the weakest area of the field. We still need a striker (a good one, ready to jump into the fray immediately), maybe a winger (especially, if Gerv leaves), a centre-back (a fourth-choice one) and a keeper, 'cause the situation with Fabianski is unclear, while Mannone, for better or for worse, is gone. Damien Martinez may be a decent third-choice keeper, but it's risky having him as a direct back-up for Scszesny. In this case, we're an injury away from the Argentine becoming our only option. Hope Cesar talk wasn't just talk, though I can't remember the Club's representatives (especially, Wenger) declare our interest in him.
Another problem, that won't go away on it's own, is striker shortage, unless Arsene decides to use Podolski in that position. Why he was restricted to around five appearances as the spearhead of our attack is beyond me. He was one of the best finishers in Germany, banging in goals left, right and centre. Now he has to play in a position that doesn't suit him. Wenger must have his reasons to prefer Giroud, or even Walcott, to Poldi. Maybe, it's something to do with fitness, or an ankle problem, but it doesn't look like the manager is keen to use the German as a sole striker.
Thus, a striker is needed. It's not only about numbers, as opposed to what Arsene said, it's also about quality. Giroud, our only striker, will never be Henry- or van Persie-good. He may score 20 or 25 goals a season, but a doubt it'll be 40. He won't be able to save the team time and time again, while it's also not good, relying on one man. We know that out of experience. As back-up, Giroud can be gorgeous and do wonders. Just look at Newcastle game. When a striker, a rested striker 6 feet tall and with Giroud's physique comes on 30 mitutes from time against tired defenders, the effect can be devastating. All that's left, is to find someone, who can torment the defense the other hour.
Suarez stuff rambles on, but he seems to have been put out of our reach with a £55 milliom price tag. Frankly, I don't like the idea of him coming to the Emirates at all. He's got some history with the press, he was banned for racism, he developed a taste for human flesh. He's a diver. Everyone dives, but the Uruguyan make a show out of it, clutching his shins and howling in agony. He places his own interests before these of the club. Besides, Suarez is also not as good as a striker, as this comparison demonstrates. He demands tha ball all the time, he's a lousy dribbler and his shot-to-goal ratio is, frankly, appaling. I say if we choose between him and Higuain, go for the Argentine. Even if he's a couple of million more expensive.
In other news, Santos has finalised terms with Flamengo and is on his way to Brazil. As I see it, the deal was done Denilsonesque way, so there no cash from this transfer. More importantly, however, the cleansing of the squad continues, with Santos being the seventh player to leave the Club this summer. Only Park, Chamakh and Bendther are left.
As for the man himself, it was, in my opinion, a right choice for him. He chose football over money, unlike the TGSTEL. The Brazilian could've easily clung on to his contract, content to show up for traininig and picking up his salary. But he went about it another way. He accepted that his stock has fallen and decided to move on. His time with Asrenal was short, he was never very good, though his gaity, along with a few memorable goals leave a nice impession. And screw the shirt incident. We know, who to blame for that.
That's it for today. Back tomorrow. Seriously
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