Right, well with all the speculation going on at all times of the day, Twitter is quite literally set to explode. Gooners around the world are uniting in their unrest, whether it’s aimed at Ivan the Terrible, Arsene Wenger, and transfer rumours both in and out. It’s interesting, and can keep one fighting off insanity by simply trying to follow along.
Let’s spend a few minutes trying to sift through the rubble and see what we can come up with. Oh, and for your added benefit, I included the current SkyBet odds for each of the rumours. Cover me – I’m going in…
Transfers In:
Gonzalo Higuain – There have been more reports of on and off again news relating to Higuain joining the Gunners than those reporting Elvis sightings or UFO visits. Really, can we just not agree to shut up about it (yes, I see the irony in that I’m asking people to shut up about it, yet I continue to write about it)? Fact: his is a great player. Fact: he would blend with Cazorla, Jack, et al like bacon and virtually anything else on the planet. Fact: he is not currently at Arsenal getting a medical. Fact: Wenger is a frugal man. Fact: Both Higuain and the club feel it’s time he moves on.
So with all this pointing in favour of Arsenal, why has nothing been done yet? If you’re actually considering an answer you must not have had any prior experience with the club, its manager, and any transfer period in history. Arsenal, errr, Wenger, are notoriously slow in completing moves – not always, but most of the time. I fully suspect something has been accomplished behind the scenes – perhaps there has been contact made, perhaps agent and club have spoken. Sometimes the “truth to every rumour” applies, and this is one that I think has some element of justification. Arsenal have contacted Real Madrid, but that’s as far as my confidence goes.
Word of advice – watching Wenger work a transfer period is like watching Piers Morgan talk about anything – slow and painful. So, try to think happy thoughts while you watch.
Marouane Fellaini – For me, even moreso than Higuain, Fellaini is very well-suited for Arsenal. I like his attitude (and the fact that he took out Shawcross) which is edgy at best, and his movement and finish from set pieces. I just think from a tactical standpoint, he offers a lot. The other thing I like is his price tag when comparing him to other massive names like the aforementioned Higuain and soon to be mentioned Wayne Rooney. He will come in about 10million less than either of those players, and will offer a very unique skill set. Combine him with Mertesacker and Giroud, and we can even compete with the giraffes at Stoke as far as size in the box off corners and set pieces. For me, I really like this option and truly think Wenger has considered it.
Wayne Rooney – The second he announced his interest in leaving Manchester United, he was spotted at London Colney, Heathrow, and outside the Emirates buying a basket of chips. I’m not upset at the notion of Roo playing at Arsenal next season. Being a big club in a world class city who have openly claimed they have the cash in the bank all point to the deal making sense. That said, I think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that the disgruntled #10 ever steps foot at the Emirates donning “Victoria Concordia Crescit” on his kit. First, we all know that Wenger’s pockets are sewn shut, and no amount of fans’ whining and crying, nor Board pleas, will change that. It’s just something that comes along with having a guy who is amongst the greatest. Second, I think his wages are so astronomical that it makes him too costly. Can you see him willing to take less while he’s still in his prime? Not – a – chance!
So, please, let’s put this to bed until he really is spotted outside the Emirates buying some chips, which I suspect he does in his spare time anyway.
Stevan Jovetic – It seems like we’ve been linked with Jovetic forever now – it’s actually not far from the truth. The Fiorentina star certainly has the talent to warrant interest, and I believe he would actually fit in fairly well with the club. However, I just think this has dragged on far too long, and if Arsenal truly wanted him it would have progressed at least somewhat by now. Being linked today to Juventus (who like Arsenal are linked with almost every player in the world) doesn’t help the cause, but we all know that sometimes clubs and agents throw smoke just to help their own cause. It doesn’t dissuade me that Fiorentina have been outwardly saying he’s not for sale – all clubs do that and it doesn’t really mean much at the end of the day. If a player is wanted elsewhere, only a price tag has to be determined. If they want him, he’s there, I just don’t think they do as their first choice. Now if Higuain or Fellaini fall through… go to it! His 20-22million price tag seems about what someone will pay.
Julio Cesar – Remember when this deal was done and everyone soiled themselves when Paddy Power and SkyBet closed the books on Julio Cesar because he was all but a Gunner? Well, he still could be, and listening to a few birdies perched not far from Wenger’s window, it truly is very advanced. The problem is that I don’t like birds, and know them to be untrustworthy. Either you work for the club or don’t. And if you know someone who does, either piss or get off the pot and tell me who you know and how. For not, Cesar is not at Arsenal, but I believe by mid-July he will be.
Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny – Both defenders have been linked to numerous teams including the best from Spain, Germany and France. The buzz around Koscielny was precipitated by his comments regarding outfitting the team with serious talent to create a competitive squad. Rumour-mongers went ape-shit, and almost instantly drudged up a bunch of recycled rumours we’ve already heard before. To further endear him to his fans, Laurent took to the media to announce his intent to stay at Arsenal, and sources close to the club (the same birdies who spoke to me about Cesar) believe he is working out a contract extension. Phew.
Sagna is in a different situation. He lost favour at a few points this year, most notably in a match where he had a horrendous giveaway that basically gave a match away. Many were favouring Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson to get the nod outside, which is new territory for Bacary who has been a mainstay and a very worthy footballer for Wenger’s bunch. Sagna regained some form, and he finished the season on a high. My first inkling is that those transfer rumour whores sensed there was enough animosity directed at him to make for an easy target. For shame! In all seriousness, I believe Sagna will stay but I’m not so sure he is willing to sign long-term, even though that seems to be what a guy of his age would want.
Nicklas Bendtner – Oh dear Lord, please, end this annoyingly long saga. Bendtner doesn’t want to be at the, the club don’t want him there, and the Arsenal faithful are going to seriously hog-tie someone in the club’s administration if this pesky problem isn’t solved right quick. Bendtner is turning out to be like an ugly daughter you have to pay someone to take off your hands.
Photo Credit: Ronnie Macdonald, Wikipedia, CC
