While Gunners are touring Asia....the new Summer Transfer thread

I had a wonderful childhood thanks, the guards were constantly giving me little gifts. Whether it was a piece of bark, or some dried mud, their care and attention to my diet was heartwarming.

In transfer news, we're getting closer to at least one signing. Which means when we fail to sign anyone of worth I'm going to be even more annoyed

 

My issue is that I am not sold on Chamak being useless. He was good when he started his career with us and he was good before we bought him. As you point out, I cannot give many examples since then to justify his retention and I wouldn't be broken hearted if we got 15 million for Bandy and Chamak combined and bought a single quality player.

I see your point on signing someone like him and that is the biggest reason to sort RvP, Theo, Bendy, Chamak and AA. Big difference in convincing someone that there will be opportunities when there are 10 guys in the rotation versus 6 guys across 3 spots.

Who is an Arteta-type at ST that would be an option (and who didn't already sell-out for max cash in China)? Maybe that old fart in NY... He keeps making noise about playing for us.

 

It really is baffling how he became so inept. He obviously has skill. I, too, hope he rediscovers his form, even if it's not with us.

Good point.

Yeah, this is a tough one. Ironically, I think there are more of those types of players in the world than there are players of super quality. The hard part would be getting them without their current clubs jacking their fee way up since they know we'll be flush with RvP cash. They'd probably have to come from Europe and not the EPL. That's a role that I probably would've looked at someone like Demba Ba for (only at the current, cut-price fee). That need becomes even more pressing if we return to a 4-2-2.

 

Straight from FOX Soccer, and the horses mouth himself.

Thierry Henry WILL return to Arsenal for a 3rd spell.

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...o-arsenal-player-or-coach-ny-red-bulls-072512

 

If we forced him to stick to a 7pm curfew we might see a return to form

 

Thats from his post game presser yesterday

 

thats almost 100% not what those quotes say



as for Chamakh, he was at least decent at holding the ball up. He frustrated the hell out of me during his hot streak at the start because of his resistance to take a chance on goal, and his terrible shot. But he kept getting chances and eventually he scored. I actually dont think he has gotten worse in terms of his hold up play, and his finishing is the same to me as it was when he started. He just doesnt get the chance to play much. THats not me advocating for him to play because I dont rate him highly and was worried about him even during that run.

 

The quote:

I would like to go back to England with Arsenal for sure," Henry is quoted as saying on SkySports.com.

"I wasn't planning to go back to play last season. It was only because Gervinho and (Marouane) Chamakh went to the African Nations Cup.

"I was there to train and they asked me if I wanted to play. Who knows what might happen in the future?
"I've not yet spoken to Arsene about it so I don't know what capacity I could go back in.

"Coaching does interest me but I don't know what my talent is going to be after I have finished my career. But I will go back to Arsenal."

I would say it all but says Titi is going to come back in some capacity. He all but is inviting Arsene to do so, and most likely will be granted that oppurtunity.

 

Even back at Bordeaux his numbers weren't exactly stellar, he had 10 goals and 1 assist in 32 league starts. For a striker that's rather pitiful. To me he's the type of striker who's extremely specialized and only works well in certain teams. Bordeaux had an extremely tight defense and Chamakh was frequently the game winner for them, but in our team where our opponents park the bus and wait to upset us on the counter his value just diminishes.

 

https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/...n-persie-thread.1785665/page-47#post-26004613

 

And with the team he would have around him, that might actually suit us. He came into a team where we needed him to score but I feel like this squad will be quite happy if he plays with his back to goal and helps them to score.

I think that would allow him to be the player he is, rather than the player we hoped he would (and his early games incorrectly indicated he could) be.

Occassional header on set plays and hold the ball up for Arteta, Podolski, TV or whoever wants to unleash on the ball? Suits me fine for a bench player.

 

That's okay with me, but the rest of the team is REALLY going to have to pick up the pace in scoring if we are to play that way.

 

now where in those quotes does it say "will return for a 3rd spell" to play, like you suggested in your post?

That prior squad didnt need him to score, he took one of the 100 chances that was given to him. We still had Cesc and Nasri who could provide goals.

This squad would need him to score goals because we dont have anyone else, nor do we create enough for him to thrive.

He isnt useful for this version of Arsenal at all, especially since Giroud can probably provide that hold up play. If we need a goal, do you throw Chamakh on? What will he do to help us score?

 

Make the opposition feel so sorry for us, they gift us one ?

 

He debuted in 2010, right? Nasri scored all of 10 goals that season and didn't even debut until October. Cesc scored 3 league goals in the whole season, didn't he?

The current squad scored two ore league goals than did the 2010 version so why is this squad inferior to the squad he joined, in terms of scoring prowess?

I believe I was stating his usefulness as Giroud's back-up due to the similarity of their ability to deliver hold up play. At no point was I arguing that he is a scorer, I said he would hold the ball up and distribute as well as be a factor on set plays. Definitely not a player you bring on to pull you out of a hole but useful to help you hold a lead perhaps.

 

Nasri played and got injured early on, fair enough tho. Forgot about that injury.

id rather have a guy that can get us goals off the bench. Having an extra midfielder that can keep the ball off the bench is better than having a holding forward.

I dont know why Chamakh is still on this team.

 

Because no-one else wants him, no-one wants to pay his wages, he doesn't want to take a wage cut, and he doesn't want to leave

 

Laurent did play as a fullback for stretches of last season, no? I really can't analyze how well he did there vs. in the middle. I just think those four (Verm, Kos, Mert, Sagna) are our best four. That's why I chose it that way. Also, didn't pay much attention to left vs. right. Sorry.

As for Rosicky, yea, I said "assuming everyone's healthy." Personally, I think he's better than Arteta. I've been a fan of his for years, even when everyone was asking why he was still on the team, treating him like Bendtner or something. Then, all of a sudden, everyone loves Rosicky again last season. Because he's good, and always has been.

I know everyone would like to see some other new players, but I don't see us bringing in more than another one or two, at most.

 

Fair enough. I think my point was that Chamakh can better slide in as a sub when the team is built around a player like Giroud than when he was subbing into a team built for RvP.

And goals off the bench and a quality box-to-box mid versus him? Agree on both points.

And, if you take it further and try to imagine him filling in for an injured player (i.e. not just a sub at the end of a game) for any length of time and his limited usefulness is even more apparent.

We need to either plan with RvP and plan for losing him (yes, I know I speak the obvious). If we sold him, Chamakh and Bendy, we get what 34 million to reinvest? Add AA and you are likely over 40. You spend that wisely and we look really good for this season with very little net spending. For all the disparity in net spending, we really aren't far off.

 

Personally I'd put Sagna on the right, Gibbs on the left and then Kos and Vermaelen in the center, maybe swopping Kos for mertesacker for certain games. Kos may be a better CB than Gibbs is a full back, but when we play him at LB/RB we lose some of our attacking strength. IMO it's not worth it

 

OK, OK. Like I said, I wasn't paying much attention to left vs. right when I posted my suggested formation. Still not convinced of Gibbs as a full time starter, but hopefully this will be his year to claim that spot. Both Kos and Verm seem to get forward, joining the offense quite a bit, I think that's why I think Kos would be more than OK at fullback. But yes, he's very good at CB, so I'll drop that argument. Let's just not be surprised if we wind up with a somewhat-makeshift back line again should injuries occur (because, you know, that never happens to us).

As for Arteta being third best, I'm not so sure. I'd definitely put Song before him. Obviously, it was his first year, and he did a great job adapting to the team, filling a midfield hole for us so quickly. However, he seems to be lacking some speed and one-on-one ability (Rosicky's got better tricks/moves, if you ask me).

With all that said, seeing as Rosicky and Wilshere are out, yes, Arteta will likely start.

Really hoping Diaby can stay fit. If so, I think we can expect him to start regularly. Wenger was just quoted as saying Diaby, when fit, would be "the first midfielder on the teamsheet for France."

Don't think anyone can confidently throw Giroud in the starting lineup, as he's not proved anything for our team yet. I suppose Podolski hasn't either, but given his history, I'm more comfortable thinking he'll be able to contribute straight away.

 

http://malagacf.diariosur.es/noticias/2012-07-26/moayad-shatat-aterriza-malaga-201207261753.html

According to someone in Arsenal-mania, the Sheik representative has landed in Malaga and will probably have a meeting today where he will tell the club if Cazorla has to be sold or not and then Malaga will likely either today or tomorrow forward the club decision to us.

 

There's gotta be something to the Cazorla rumors. With Wenger and Arteta both publicly commenting on the guy more than once.