Arsenal Rumours Archive December 28 2011

28 Dec 2011 23:37:17
I heard over the summer a rumor that we were interested in young nottingham forest centre half Jamaal Lascelles. I think any move was squashed by forests high price demand.

Forests finances are now not looking so good as their chairman nigel dougherty who was balancing an £11m defecit each year is leaving in summer. Forest are really struggling for centre halfs atm (literally they only have one) but they still aren't giving jamaal a game. I live in nottingham and my mates who go to the matches can't understand why except for the fact that its to protect him from injury so they can sell him in January. Just wondered if anyone had heard anything recently?

Joe

If he can't get a game for Forest there is little chance he would ever be seen wearing the cannon.

Wenger has always gone for the same type of defensive players, so unless he subscribes to type I really can't see us being interested in him at all.

To be fair, Wenger hasn't been credited for his shrewd defensive signings - everybody seems to be too busy haranging him for the odd bad one.

Koscielny was a great signing
Vermaelen was a great signing
Sagna was a great signing
Gibbs is starting to look a little better
Jenkinson bless his cottons is ok too

So the only ones who aren't really Arsenal quality and I suspect will be moved on are:

Squillaci
Djourou (because he is far too weak)

Jury is out on Santos, though I am inclined to like the fella; he runs and runs and when he sorts out his positional sense will be amazing. At least he is better than the amazing Bart Simpson Stalker Luiz. And Sky Sports were kissing his arse all summer until they actually bothered watching him :) LOL


CS

Oh yes and of course I forget a mention for Per Mertesaker...

Well he seems to divide oppinion. For me he is average and not good enough, but I am willing to give the lad more time to prove himself as he was well respected throughout his career in Germany.

That said, for a tall CB he is too quiet, doesn't provide enough cover on his post for corners, or seem to stop enough crosses. His backwards passes always with out fail, put the keeper under too much pressure, and he dwells on the ball too long.

Infact I have yet to see him make a single touch pass in all of his games. Plus he let's attackers get very very close to him so he can make his tackle, but if he then misses the tackle get's left behind as he just hasn't got the pace.

A few people think he is a quiet solid defender but whilst I would agree the typecast I would also say he is TOO quiet and not good enough in defense to be useful to us currently.

Another player we could hang on to for backup for a decent defender.

CS

I think he's 17 so he wouldnt be expected to play every match anyway but he's supposed to be pretty good. AOC and jenkinson barely got games at their clubs last year either...

AOC played loads what you on about? And was injured and Jenko was 1st team all the way.

?? lol


CS

AOC was unreal at Southhamps. Djorou should be replaced ideally, kozcielny cant decide on, he's picked it up this season, but thats purely compared to last season, it was harder for him to be much worse.

NottsGooner

I'm not sure you and I have been watching the same Koscielny?

He has been pretty good since day 1, just because a few Sky pundits got on his back he wasn't the most popular signing - but to be fair he hasn't had any bad games, even last season.

And this season he has been fantastic! But that's just my two cents...

CS

Hasnt had any bad games? didnt you watch him hand birmingham the carling cup? to be fair he does seem to be quite consistant now, i wouldnt say hes world class but hes quite good.

As no-one else commented on Jamaal Lascelles I'll give it a go. Not played for forest as they consider him too young (they have a point he has only just turned 18 in November). He has played 4 games for England under 19's giving solid performances in all 4 games. He is out of contract in the summer. Don't expect him to sign for anyone this winter. He is a possible signing for anyone in the summer but only on a compensation payment. We were reported to have offered £5m in April just after he signed professional terms but this was rejected. Will we go in again I doubt it!

CrossRoss

Yes I was there. As I remember it, last bit of the game long ball came into the goal area from a Foster goal kick from the other end. Koscielny went for it and so did Szczezny, neither gave a shout for it so both ended up leaving it...

Hardly a Koscielny error it was the keepers job to shout for it and protect his area. Previous to this he had a good game, as the 0-0 scoreline before then suggested.

The keeper on the other hand, also had a good game and because of his youth I can't really say I was displeased though we lost the game.

The reason we lost this game was because of a lack of communication caused by inexperience. Now you can't blame Koscielny for that!

Be fair to the lad he played very well for that game and we were undone at the end by a team error.

CS

28 Dec 2011 21:53:09
January IN:

Henry (Loan) NY Red Bulls
Bent £25m Aston Villa
Alex £5m Chelsea

OUT:
Chamakh £4m to Standard Liege
Arshavin £8m to Zenit St.Petersburg

Would love to see Bent at the Emirates....he would be a beast for us!


North Carolina Gooner

Yeah it has to be said, I am surprised we have not been in for Bent before he scores buckets of goals for all his clubs, seems to have a good attitude and is not often in trouble. Never seen him sent off either!

Trouble is Arsenal don't seem to like goal poacher types unless they are Croatian dwarves!

Yeah it is unlikely but i agree I would love to see Bent sign for Arsenal

CS

Bents been awful this season, for someone whos reputation is based on poaching, which lets face it, is all he can do, he's done nothing at villa. We'd be better of going for Gabby.

NottsGooner.

As far as PL strikers go, i think Ba would be a much better signing than Bent. and we could probably get him cheaper. but do agree that Darren seems like a good guy and would be a decent signing. however, if we did sign someone like him we would not bring in Henry as well.

Oleg Maputo

Ba would be amazing but I really can't see Newkie letting him leave, that's even if he would want to come!

Just because we are Arsenal, let's not disrespect Newcastle. They have had a rough time since Shearer but they are on the up, and sure enough - their fans and players love that club just as much as our own supports love the Arsenal.

Ba is a brilliant player though I doubt we will ever sign him. Bent however Wenger had an interest in some years back before he went to Spurs.

True his best form hasn't been seen much this season but to say he has been terrible I feel is very harsh.

Besides out of the last 7 seasons he has only had half a bad one (this term).

CS

Gabby Agbonlahor, hmm I am not sure about him. Sometimes he looks great, other times he just seems invisible.

If the boss showed an interest then I would definitely be interested to see where that went, but as of now I don't really know enough of him to say.

Good shout though NottsGooner if indeed there is some official club interest he is one of those players that doesn't have the striking personality to make him stand out in a game. Perhaps you are right and his skill level is better than it seems...

CS

I rate Gabby more on his work rate and he plays well consistently. Not great technically but can play wherever he's needed really, strong, quick and always raises his game when its needed, which is more than i can say for Arshavin. Pretty sure we were linked with him before too. Not that he'd ever leave Villa brummie through and through.

NottsGooner

I suppose he could replace Chamahk who regretfully hasn't been a shadow of the player he first seemed.

I remember him heading in about 8 or 9 goals and providing loads of assists and holding players up well.

What happened? We were signing Chamahk my bitch up ala Prodigy before, now it's more like he must be on Chamahk to be that poor lol

CS

Sorry but bent & gabby!? us gunners can't afford them we'll be lucky to afford heskey!

LOL

Some people on this site really need to quit the verbal diarrhoea.

I hardly think that Bent & Gabby are going to cost megabucks, that is even if we did show an interest. Perhaps the writer of that last comment would like to compare 'what us gunners can afford' with his own club.

Perhaps compare stadiums for a start! There are not many clubs better funded than ours, just because we don't go throwing our money down the toilet as is the trend - you make out like we are paupers! Haha it's the stuff of fantasy.

And Heskey to be frank couldn't pay us enough to field him! He sucks!

CS

Alex is a good shout but only if we get him for a steal. I doubt the board will spend £5m because hi wages will push that to £11. As he has requested his transfer there is no money for him to make from the deal so will be looking for a sign on package to satisfy his agent EEAP. Expect him to go to Turkey or Italy. Bent aint happening. If Chamakh leaves it will be a) a miracle b) back to Bordeaux. Arshavin is free to sign a prenup with anyone.

No-one is going to leave in the winter. Henry may sign as a temp loan. He didnt sign Park just to sell t-shirts, so expect him to get a run out soon, so no Ba (who is off to ACN anyway) Bent is not the answer. Agbonlahor would be a good signing but Villa won't sell. He is looking for a good left back to cover for Gibbs and Santos. Personally I'd go for broke on Vertonghen and keep TV5 at leftback. But he is more likely to go for one of ... Maynor Figueroa, Jérémy Mathieu or Simon Poulsen all are available for prenups so a generous £2m will secure any of them. All three have experience and international caps. Alternatively Aly Cissokho is heavily linked and fits the bill exactly; French, (no longer African!), tall, pacey, no positional sense!!!

CrossRoss

Lol chamakh to standard de liège

28 Dec 2011 19:00:36
Heard a rumour today from a shaky source who has been know to be right but has been wrong too.
He says Henry deal was agreed today 1st Jan - 29th Feb. Shirt number not yet decided but thought he will take 12 as its his international number.
-----the freelancer----

If this is true i want him to take the 14. i demand him to. i'm not sure if in football clubs "freeze" players numbers like in hockey. henry definitely has earned that. he's our nr 14 and walcott could show a good gesture by giving the lad the number

What utter nonsense!

What the hell would Walcott want to give his number away to Henry for? He waited years for it, and just because Henry """MIGHT""" and probably won't but might - be coming back, you want to take an injured lads shirt number away for Christmas!

Will NEVER happen, and good too because that would be the worst thing for his morale just when he seems to be playing well before injury.

CS

Who cares what shirt number he wears. If he is loaned then I think something like in the 30s is more likely.

Gilo

12 is most likely as he wore it for france and it is available however your correct it is unimportant.
14 is impossible think of the fans who have brought Walcott 14 shirts.
I am not saying it makes me correct as i know they are unreliable but the Daily Mail have printed the exact rumour i posted here, maybe i share a source with them.
---the freelancer---

28 Dec 2011 14:46:23
we should go for granero he might be a late bloomer like sneijder and VDV or he could be a flop

The fact you even consider that there's still a possibly he 'might be a flop' tends to make me believe your thoughts on us going for him weren't v. well thought out.

Late bloomer like vdv and sneijder? before madrid signed them they were fantastic players unlike granero your football knowledge is terrible.

Could you tell us why he might be fantastic or might be a flop?

No point just procrastinating give your opinion in more detail!

Personally Granero is no better than what we currently have in my eyes. Forget comparing him to Sneij / VDV who are both far more competent and better players, for me.

I still think we have a small chance of seeing more of Reo / Park / Oxy before buying another striker. I think we need a few left sided defenders really!

Looking at the games we lost, we are always getting hammered down the left because Mertesaker is just rubbish lol.

Poor guy wish shouldn't have bothered i'd rather have had Senderos back! Hehe and that says something because he isn't exactly a world beater is he

CS

CS

Mertesacker had a brilliant game against Wolves the other day.

How would his work determine how well we do down the left when he is a centre back?

Gilo

CS youre way off on Mertesacker. he has made some poor errors this season but has often been very solid. he gets on with the job persistently and efficiently, so often goes unnoticed when he is playing very well. we have got 3 clean sheets in our last 8 PL games, and havent conceded more than 1 goal in a PL game in 2 months. this is our best defensive run in a while, much better than anything in the Senderos era (when he scarcely played anyway).

The LB issue is completely seperate, it is just bad luck with injuries. we are now fileding players out of position who are not experienced in the role. Even Vermaelen looks a bit uncomfortable there, and in fact that Mertesacker error against Villa was as much Vermaelen's fault as his.

youre right about granero though. simply not the sort of player we need right now. certainly worth giving Ryo and AOC a go, and we have Wilshere coming back in the next month or so. if we do sign someone, it should certainly be another centre forward.

Oleg Maputo

Anybody who watched the last 3 games he has played can see, we get attacked down the left, then the player cuts inside and Mertesaker is the player who should be making tackles.

He is far too hit and miss for me, plus on corners he is pretty near to useless despite his height. This is why we need a better left sided player. Plus when we have no recognised LB the importance of the left CB is raised.

Do you see now what I mean?

CS

28 Dec 2011 12:00:23
Arsenal will only make loan signings this January but are preparing a £30m summer spending spree on Lukas Podolski, Juan Vargas and Yoann Gourcuff.

Youve Just Copy That From A Blog Youve Read But they Just Copied What Lucho Posted A Couple Of Days Ago.

It's on the BBC

Its Such Poor And Lazy Journalism Because I Believe Vargas's Contract Ends This Season.

^
which is why we gett him on a free as gourcuff and podolski are worth 15m each

15+15=30

But then its not part of a shopping spree is it, ive heard gourcuff would come at half that price and the only reason i can see us looking at him is to cover lb whilst santos a gibbs are injured

^ So we'd sign an Attacking Midfielder to cover our LBs? Really? Sure about that?

=Miss Arsenal

Id take all 3 and how can gourcuff be cover for gibbs and santos?

Miss Arsenal I Was Talking About Vargas.