Winter Transfer Speculation

[Niall_Quinn]

This essentially covers it

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...ave-big-impact

He realises he cocked up in the summer now, which is why we have Elneny. Vidal, yes we should've gone in for but someone of Elneny's level would have been far easier to source back in the summer but he chose not to. Wilshere/Coq/Arteta/Flam were seen as enough. Just like a striker on a similar level to Giroud, if better wasn't available.

But fuck it. Going back over this ground again and again is pointless. We are where we are now. That's what we have to deal with until the end of the season.

True, we are where we are. So how many times is Wenger going to get away with it?

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsène Wenger expects the likes of Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere to have a big impact next season.
The Arsenal duo both missed long periods of the 2014/15 campaign, but made significant contributions upon their return as the Gunners won the FA Cup.
“The best way to strengthen other areas of the team is to get the players who did not play a lot last year and keep them fit,” Wenger told Arsenal Player.
“Walcott basically did not play until the end of the season, Wilshere has not played many games. Those two were very convincing at the end of the season so I hope that this season we can benefit from their participation and competitiveness.
“We lost Ozil and Giroud for long periods last year and they contributed a lot in the second part of the season. Let’s hope all these players will be fit and available.
“After, if we can still add some quality, we will do it.”

He's a fucking joker, isn't he? Relying on crocks not to get injured and then throwing his usual bullshit about "quality" into the pot. We could get a tramp from under a railway bridge and he'd have more quality than Sanogo - so why did he bring him in? Quality? Nothing to do with it.

[Kano]

True, we are where we are. So how many times is Wenger going to get away with it?

As long as the board decide. We both know that is the truth. I've always said fans have a decision to make regarding their patience. Rumours are he will be awarded another contract, so then what? Three more years of saying the same thing? I'm all for talking about ideal scenarios but I'd much rather have my feet planted in reality. You tend not to go crazy that way.

[Niall_Quinn]

And today:

Arsene Wenger insists that Arsenal do not need to buy in order to keep up their challenge for a first Premier League title since 2004.
Wenger did not buy a single outfield player last summer, and has made just one signing in this window, bringing in midfielder Mohamed Elneny, who is yet to make his debut.
But with the likes of Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky returning to fitness, Wenger believes that there is no need to invest further.

'Welbeck is coming back and Alexis Sanches is back,' said Wenger on Friday. We have the quality and the players that we need up front.'

Broken record.

[Niall_Quinn]

As long as the board decide. We both know that is the truth. I've always said fans have a decision to make regarding their patience. Rumours are he will be awarded another contract, so then what? Three more years of saying the same thing? I'm all for talking about ideal scenarios but I'd much rather have my feet planted in reality. You tend not to go crazy that way.

Easiest job in football. Nice if you can get it.

[mastermind84]

Indeed, Vieira is one of a kind and I'm not saying we'll find a carbon copy of him. I mean let's get with the program and find the closest player we can to being able to fill that role in the middle. Vidal certainly had that potential. A tough, hard working bastard who links the play excellently and can look after himself when the game goes all Cattermole. 35 goals in 120 appearances for Juve too. Why not? Depending on who you listen to we're talking around £25mill. How could we have not even stuck a bid in? He might have said no, it might never have happened, but it's the fact Wenger doesn't seem remotely interested in filling these big holes in the squad that have been there for years. Okay, finally even he twigged we needed a keeper so I suppose there's still some hope he'll eventually spot the other obvious stuff too.

Vidal has a hot knee and is allegedly an alcoholic. He also doesnt play that position with Bayern. He plays kind of like Ramsey, imo.

Saying that, you are right we needed a holder to go along with Coquelin. But more than anything, we need a Thiago or Modric type. We dont have a real controller in our midfield. Santi is the closest to that but he too small and getting older.

[IBK]

Wenger tried last summer? He had no intention of adding outfield players, he said so himself many times, I'll try and dig out the quotes.

I don't think he 'tried' either. Wenger has long form in implying that he tried to be active, but the word does not mean the same in his context as it does in the real world. 'tried' seems to mean 'wait for a player to fall into his lap at his valuation not the market price'. Doesn't mean much, TBH.

[Niall_Quinn]

Deadline Day. One of the two quietest days of the year at Arsenal.

[Marc Overmars]

Berahino and Doumbia to Newcastle.

[Letters]

Broken record.

Oh the ironing...