Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Wellbeck for a reasonable price (and quite possibly a higher resale value) would make this strong squad stronger. Our options aren't nearly astute enough for us to deny that unfortunately, nevertheless I'm not sure our best efforts should be spent on signing such a player right now.

If the money we didn't spend on him ACTUALLY went on going into the pot for a proper CF worthy of the first team spot at Arsenal football club for the next window or two, then I'd want to opt for that. Who knows what's in Wenger's thinking though, he clearly rates Sanogo more than any of you lot.

[mastermind84]

Welbeck would be a wonderful signing.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Di Maria fee apparently agreed for the Mancs at a whopping 63.9 million. Marketing have essentially recouped their investment on James here.


Hope he fails miserably but sadly given his quality I doubt it's going to be the case. Still, given their shocking defence I still don't think its enough to even guarantee them top four.

[Kano]

A CM, CB and a striker. Not just stop gap signings but we need something of real note in all three positions. Not all 20/30m signings but players who can add something more than we currently have. Is that all going to happen in this window? No. Will it happen by the end of the next one? No. The club is flush with more cash but it is extremely unlikely they are going to spend most of it in one season. Is there one of these signings in us before the window closes? Maybe. The question then becomes, which position is seen as holding more value? Having a main man upfront, stabilising the middle of the field or providing competitive experience at the back? It's one out of three as they are not all going to be addressed.

The signing of Alexis created a wonderful aura around the club especially off the back of the FA win but in the cold hard light of day now the season has started, it's obvious this team do not have enough to push on in its current form. Of course, we'll play better than we have in the first three games but there are clearly at least two squads better equipped than ours at the moment. So that's third/fourth at best. When you have Liverpool, Everton and potentially even Tottenham (yeah I know but it can happen) sniffing around, its a dangerous game to keep grabbing one of those last two spots. Our squad on paper has been better than both Everton and Tottenham for years, yet we have still managed to go to the wire with them both.

Is this the season when Walcott is turned into a striker? With Podolski used in there too? We can't seriously expect to challenge for anything other than the cups again with Sanogo and Campbell as back up to Giroud. It would seem bizarre if we don't add something to the front line, whether internally or through buying and go a second season with such a threadbare attack. Or have we become a latent Barcelona, packed with attacking midfielders at a time when that part of footballs tactical cycle is now moving onto something new? Maybe a signal of Wenger's vision somewhat lagging behind the times? It's not pleasant to think of but it is worth considering, especially if our options up top do not change.

We've come back to win from 1-0 down, held out in a hostile environment with ten men and scored two goals in ten minutes after being 2 down. All done when playing particularly poorly. Great stuff. Fortitude. That is a great indication of belief existing within the team. Something seems to have changed since last season. But that will only get us so far. You need that and the talent. At the minute we don't have enough of the latter to take us further than last season. And it's hard to see that we will sign enough in the next seven days to change that. I can only hope for one thing that has been proven many times. That I'm completely and utterly wrong.

[Injury Time]

The Ox not eager to sign Wellbeck then?

[GP]

Looks like Poldi is off.

[Penguin]

A CM, CB and a striker.

The worrying thing is that we've needed the same three players for at least 3 years (or a lot longer for the DM). Either Wenger doesn't see the problems or he's ignoring them.

[Marc Overmars]

Looks like Poldi is off.

He's a good guy but I just don't see where he fits in tbh, with Campbell in the squad now I'd say he's fairly surplus.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Looks like Poldi is off.

Reus in tbf.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

A shame as he's an immensely likable fellow and very popular in the dressing room but there's just no room for him. Hope whatever transfer that occurs is handled professionally and he still retains respect and love for the club. Would love to see him again at the club in the future in some capacity.


More importantly, with Eboue, Frimpong and now Podolski gone it does open up a spot for the dressing room joker. Time to step up Mr Yaya Sanogo.