I'd take Cabaye in a heartbeat. He can play in the Wilshere role or the Cazorla role, and is quality in either. He'd give us much more flexibility.
Ba, Santon, and Cabaye. Ba has a 7m buyout, Santon runs about the same, but Cabaye probably costs over 20.
My apologies if this is old news about M'Vila - who we were continually linked with. He is banned from the NT till 2014, and after the WC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20259676
I think this kind of stuff is the reason we ultimately passed. But now's the time to sign him up since he won't be getting hurt on international duty like all our other players.
Sagna to Inter? http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/inter-milan-confident-of-luring-arsenal-1425616
With all the injuries, not signing Dembele or Dempsey is increasingly looking like a terrible decision. Not that they are all that, but both of them are the type of versatile players that we really could use right now- especially Dembele could play wing or the Diaby midfield role. These aren't huge money signings, just clear mistakes made by a manager who seems to consistently underestimate how injury prone the squad is.
You mean the question of where could we get an experienced EPL player who can play all 3 positions on our front line and has both a nose for goal?
First: I'd say buy M'Vila. Current market price should be quite low i relation to ability and potential. He's young. Can be straighten out. Has lots to prove. Won't play for the NT in a while. Second: Get Navas. Would be nice with a real winger for a change. And someone who likes that role.
We have had our share of bad apples in guys like Pennant and Bendtner and Ade. I don't think it is worth risking our locker room to get guys like M'Villa in. Plus, there is nothing about his game that I think is worth the risk if we were to take one anyway. If you want a proven hack that can play at the highest level then Jermaine Jones might be a better buy. He shut our MF down pretty good last week.
Yup. Jenks just signed a 5 year deal. Sagan gets flogged this summer. It is the Arsenal way sadly now.
Ideal shopping list: Samba (he's unhappy with the racism in Russia, and we need some more depth ), Baines, Fellaini/Cabaye (I don't care how much they cost, the midfield needs some bite), and most importantly a truly good striker like Cavani/Falcao.