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Fairly underwhelmed with the signings. Happy with Mertesacker and Arteta but those should have been in addition to a couple 20M pound signings, not the main additions.
Don't know much about Santos.
Park is a reasonable buy (judging by reports on him, stats and some YT stuff) but he's not going to make a difference in our season imo. Obviously he's better than that waste of space Chamakh.
imo:
Gervinho < Nasri
Arteta < Fabregas
Santos = Clichy
Jenkinson > Eboue
Park = Bendtner
Benayoun > Vela
Mertesacker > (Djourou + Squillaci + Koscielny + Miquel)
We've weakened the first team a fair bit but on the other hand made the squad stronger. I think Benayoun will either be fucking brilliant or complete shite, hopefully the former. At least we now have a squad where we can attempt to compete for top 4, rather than before where we had no chance at all, but a disappointing summer on the whole yet again given that we banked 20M and really should have added some top quality to the lineup.
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Also, and this is probably more of a general musing than a reaction to this specific transfer window, but personally I can’t shake the feeling we’re moving sideways (if not in slight decline) season after season whilst others around us continue to get stronger. It appears (and has done for years with our January transfer spending pattern) that we’re only really willing to spend some big money when finishing outside of the top four is a real possibility. Whether that’s down to AW or the board I don’t know, probably a bit of both, but I just get the feeling that the club as whole is content to just “challenge” for the cups and get champions league football each year.
It’s just so frustrating that the last few summers have mainly seen us replace keys players that we’ve lost with players who have ‘potential’ or aren’t quite as good as the players we lost. Season after season we’re in transition instead of improving on an already strong squad.
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We are seeing a complete transition close to 24 players sold and loaned from first team and reserves together. We have brought solidity,experience & work ethic and failed to replace the two match winners whom we lost (may be with the exception of Gervinho). The situation in defence has not improved either. We have bought a good defender, but not sure if can organize defense. My opinion is we will be good at the back if Vermalen plays along with Per or Koscielny. I desperately hope that I'am wrong and Per is an organizer. The Korean may not be exciting but he looks an improvement on Chamakh and DB52. Arteta is good passer and will be strater, played regularly last season and didn't look the player he once was though not poor. Benayoun is one of the underrated players and can be a handfull in the final third, but he has been injured for a while. Santos amongst all might be the most exciting signing skillfull, pacy, agressive and good on one on ones. Not sure about other defensive qualities. We'l wait and watch, good chance of finishing top 4 hope the team shows some spirit
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If these players signal the start of a move away from tippy tappy shite, or at least provide a bit of variation from it, then I think we can do well.
We just have to wait and see really, this turnover of players is unprecedented under Wenger and he can't really expect them all to be as tuned as the likes of Cesc were at this style of play, especially as none of them are kids who can still be moulded. They are experienced players and should be played in the right system to their strengths.
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Some good business IMO, but way too late in the day. Some of the damage that has been done is nothing short of disgraceful, and from board down to manager, I'm thoughroughly pissed off with the laughing stock they've made of our club. So much so, that until they prove to me that the fans actually do matter, and that Arsenal Football Club and it's history matters more than anything else, I won't be attending any matches. They can fuck right off...I'll support the players on the pitch from afar.
As far as transfers go....
We wanted experience, premier league experience, international experience....and we've got it. These are all players that will do a job. Let's not forget the abundent talent of youth we have to blend in with that. It's what we've been calling for, for ages. And we've got it.
Yes, the names aren't the "superstars" we all hoped for, but I don't want any more Nasri's or Cescs thank you. I want players that want to do a job for the club. People who care about matters on the pitch, and not just about "DNA" or "Money" or "Lesbian strap-on competitions".
Nice work. But far too late.
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Underwhelmed tbh. It'll be a struggle to finish 4th this season.
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Whilst still generally underwhelmed, having slept on it I don't think we've done too badly at all. We do seem to have addressed key deficiencies in the squad and whilst there were no world class "Marquee" signings we also haven't spent THAT much on fees or wages which leaves open the possibility of a January splurge (OK, realise this may be unrealistic based on previous windows but once Lille are out of the CL...)
Arteta
Obviously the most high profile signing, and is what we needed in terms of position, skills and experience. The fact that he took a wage cut speak volumes for his desire to play for us IMO. Maybe he hasn't shown the form recently of his early Everton days but that could be down to getting a bit stale and of course injuries. The latter being a bit of an issue with him but then Arsenal players don't really get injured very often...... Will get a fair few assists for us and takes a good set piece.
Benayoun
Initially a WTF moment but on reflection it could be a decent bit of business - he can spot a pass and has an eye for goal and as a squad player could do a job. Also, PL experienced and International captain. In his West Ham and early Liverpool days he reminded me a LITTLE bit of Pires. Also had his injury problems but it's only a loan after all.
Mertesacker
Pretty sure we've been crying out for a BIG defender and they don't get much bigger. Time will tell how he adapts to the PL but loads of experience and was club captain at a relatively young age. The fact Spurs didn't get Cahill also makes me a lot happier with Mertesacker.
Also, Vermaesacker has decent ring to it.
Chu Young Park
Don't know much about him but another international captain that runs all day, be happy on the bench, cheap so little risk... jury out but can't be worse than Chamakh and Bendtner
Andre Santos
Typical AW full back in that he's probably better going forward than defending but also experienced and considering its unlikely we'll change our tactics much he will get more assists than Clichy ever did whilst being good competition if Gibbs ever stays fit.
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It's easy to be underwhelmed that they don't look like superstar signings, but they are solid experienced players which will add to the depth of the squad and help the younger players, which is basically what we were calling for.
It's not like we signed some conference players, there is serious experience there, internationals, captains, Champions league, World Cup, Euros, Copa America experience, players who have been there and done that, and have also won things.
I'll take that for now.
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I see it as:Nasri-->Gervinho. I think Nasri being the better player but in the position he's required to play Gervinho will be more effective for us so an improvement.
Fabregas-->Wilshere. Obviously Fabegas has more experience and is the better player atm but I think Wilshere will fill the role well and become just as good. No improvement
Ramsey-->Arteta. Arteta will bring in skill and a good passing range and also take some burden off Wilshere. Improvement
Clichy-->Santos. Looks great going forward but unknown how he is defensively. Should certainly improve end product down the left and add some flair. Clichy wasn't great defensively either so imrpovement.
Squillaci-->Mertsacker. Improvement can't be anything other than and brings height and vast exerience.
Bendtner-->Park. Looks skilful, quick and a hard worker. Improvement
Eboue-->Jenkinson. Not as quick as Eboue but better crosser and more defensively mindeed. Improvement.
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If Santos can cross a ball and Young can head a ball then we've at least solved one problem that has been killing us.
