Category: Transfers

What does Silvestre mean for Arsenal

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers5 Comments

Mikael Silvestre signed for Arsenal from Man Utd in the shock signing of the season yesterday. Reportedly the fee was around GBP 750 000, which I think is worthwhile for an experienced defender.

Silvestre is 31, he plays at left back and in central defence, and he is a good addition to the squad.

I still think that the one midfielder Wenger wanted is on his way, Silvestre was just a good bit of buisness he spotted.

It is worrying that Man Utd sold him to us, as maybe that means they don’t see us a title rivals, but if it turns out that he provides good cover, or even breaks into the first team and plays alongside Gallas, it will be a shrewd bit of business on Wenger’s part.

Last season we bemoaned the lack of experience and strength in depth, especially in defence and if Silvestre can clear that up then I will be very happy.

We shouldn’t have any animosity towards him, he may have played 9 years for the Mancs but he is an Arsenal player now. I hope that he provides a new aspect to our game.

Middlesbrough bid for Hoyte, FC Twente squad released

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Champions League, Transfers

Middlesbrough have bidded for Justin Hoyte according to their chairman Steve Gibson.

“We have submitted a bid and that’s with Arsenal,”

“We are waiting for Arsenal to respond.

“We have a fantastic relationship with Arsenal. They are good people there and we would never fall out with them.

“But we have given it our best offer and we hope that it happens. If it doesn’t we move on.”

So it looks like Hoyte could be on his way. I think he will leave, his chance in the squad is limited and he probably will never be an Arsenal regular.

Also the squad for the FC Twente game has been released. We play tomorrow in Holland, with a young squad. Wenger explained:

“Kolo has a hip muscle problem. Cesc has a hamstring problem, he will be out for the next two games.

“Abou Diaby (thigh) will be out for a while, we knew that. Philippe Senderos has a scan on his hamstring. He did that today whereas Fabregas did his hamstring yesterday.

“Samir Nasri (knee/thigh) should be OK for Saturday and so should Kolo Toure”.

“Aaron Ramsey has a good chance to start”.

It looks like the younger players will get their chance, click here for the squad.

Arsenal Transfer Round-up: Wenger’s busy, Hoyte, Inler and Giovinco

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers1 Comment

To read the latest Arsenal news, click here.

Just a quick post to let you know whats happening in the transfer market.

Wenger says he’s looking for a player but he’s been busy with the Amsterdam Tournament and preparing for the CL Qualifier:

“At the moment, I am not close to concluding any transfer deal, because I am too busy here,”

“Maybe next week something can happen, but for now we have to focus on the Champions League and forget about transfers because it is a big target for us.”

“I do not rule out anybody completely at the moment. If we were in advanced negotiations with anybody else I would say no, so everything is possible right now.”

That’s fair enough I would rather see us in the Champions League than a player signed. He isn’t ruling anyone out, so it looks like we could see a new face coming in.

We’ve mainly been linked to Inler and also now a young midfielder called Anthony Annan, he’s a 22 year old playing for Ghana with Essien.

Wenger has hinted that he is open for offers for Justin Hoyte, I wouldn’t be suprised to see him leave, he hasn’t got much of a chance with Sagna and Eboue in front of him for the right-back slot.

“At the moment, he is with us and we have had no formal offer from anybody,”

“There is interest here and there, but nothing concrete.”

Wenger might loan out younger players he says:

“I may let one or two go on loan because they need to play,”

“It is part of their education. It is not especially to get Premiership experience, but to play in the first team every week with that pressure. Then, when we feel they are ready to integrate in the first team, they come back.”

We’ve also been linked by the unreliable Italian press to 21 year old Sebastian Giovinco of Juventus, he’s a young midfielder currently playing at the Olympics.

Arsene: “We need a defensive midfielder”

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers13 Comments

After the sale of Flamini and Gilberto this summer, Wenger is still searching for a replacement to play the defensive midfield role which these two have in the past.

We have options at the club already, most notably Diaby, who has played the role during pre-season. I have blogged before about Diaby and I think he has talent, but he doesn’t seem to be able to fulfil his potential.

There are other players in the squad, such as Song, who can play in central midfield, but Diaby is the only real option which makes sense.

The problem for me is that last year the squad did not have the strength and depth which is appropriate for title challengers. We have now let two first teamers go, and no-one has replaced them.

Wenger wants to bring in another midfielder, who is more experienced, and this makes the most sense, after Members’ Day he said:

“If we have everybody on board and nobody injured then [OK] but maybe we could do to take one more experienced player.”

This is true – we could manage this season with our current squad if no-one gets injured and use Diaby in central midfield. He is a good player and we have a strong first team. But there is not enough cover for Diaby, and it would be too easy for that to go wrong.

If we really are challenging next year the best option is, as Wenger says, to bring in an experienced player, and then Diaby would be used as back up. That would be the perfect outcome – but if we can’t find the right guy then we may go ahead with a weakened squad.

So keep looking Arsene, I just hope you find the right guy before time runs out!

Wilshere: No.19 – The new Arsenal or more transition??

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers3 Comments

Yesterday, Jack Wilshere became the new Arsenal no.19. He is only 16 years old, but an amazing young talent, he played twice in the Emirates Cup and shone there and with 7 substitutes in the Premiership this season he may well get his chance to play for the first team.

Wilshere has played for Arsenal since the age of 9. Last year he was used in the Under-16s, but then became a top player for the Under-18s. He has impressed in pre-season and now forms part of a new influx of youngsters into the squad, Vela, Nasri, Ramsey, Mannone and Bischoff.

Reserve Team manager Neil Banfield on Wilshere:

“If the young players work hard at their game, listen to the advice of the coaching staff, they realise they will have every opportunity here,”

“Jack was given the opportunity by the manager to go on the Austrian Training Camp, along with five others who have all done really well. Jack has taken his chance, and he is one of quite a few we have here that we have high hopes for.

“You have to adapt to the physical aspects of the game, and I think Jack is strong enough. It is about how you physically develop and I think with Jack, even at 16, it doesn’t mean he won’t be as physically strong as someone at 18 or even someone at 20.

“That has been the benefit of our Reserve team. The experienced players that our lads are up against means they learn on the pitch. The senior players then show them what to do while the game is going on. That is carried on for the young lads who learned so much in Austria.”

This is very promising news. It is exciting to have so many young prospects in the team.

One problem is that last year our squad looked lightweight and inexperienced, and we haven’t brought in any very experienced players, only replaced them with young ones.

I don’t doubt our ability – last year we played fantastically and were unlucky to come away with nothing but does this bode well for our chances of silverware?

Wenger has his critics and they will be salivating at the thought of bringing these new young talents down to the ground very hard.

I am excited for the new season, but I really really really don’t want to turn it into another ‘transition year’.

Click here to see our current squad.

Gilberto signs for Panathanaikos

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers2 Comments

The transfer season is finally getting moving. Yesterday we heard that Hleb had left to sign for Barcelona and now Gilberto has signed for Panathanaikos. This is madness compared to the dull days of June!

The transfer fee is around £1 million, which is a nice enough sum for a player of his age. Apparently he has now become the highest paid player in Greece too.

“I’m hungry to win more titles, I came to Greece because I have big ambitions, it’s very important for me to be able to continue to give my best. I couldn’t say no to the offer.

“I’m sure we will qualify through to the group stages of the Champions League. I’m excited about being a Panathinaikos player.”

‘Bert played for us for six seasons after we signed him from Atletico Mineiro of Brazil in 2002. He has been a great servant of the club, and unlike certain induviduals he has acted like a model professional even when left out of the side this season.

During those six seasons he became a regular in the first team and plaed 244 games, with 24 goals scored. He won the Premier League in 2003/04 and the FA Cup twice in 2003 and 2005.

For those who think our midfield looks a bit threadbare after the depature of Flamini, Hleb and Gilberto just remember that we have Vela and Nasri who can play in midfield and Wenger is very likely to sign a player to bolster central midfield seeing as we have lost Flamini and ‘Bert.

So a bit of extra cash and an incentive to but a new player for Mister Wenger, and a new start for good old Gilberto.

Hleb has gone, that pays for Nasri and makes some room

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

Arsenal and Barcelona have confirmed that Alex Hleb has signed for Barca for a fee around £11.8 million. This covers Nasri’s fee so we are looking good financially this summer. Just need one or two more signings and we should be confident about next season.

Hleb had a medical for Barca at about 7 pm last night and the transfer was then announced.

Wenger was gracious and confident about Alex’s departure:

“We must firstly thank Alex for his contribution towards Arsenal Football Club during his time with us. Alex played a significant role in the three seasons he was with the Club. We are comfortable with our decision to let him go and we are all looking forward to continuing our preparations for the new season ahead.”

A positive comment, he sounds calm enough about Hleb leaving. I said before that lack of goals from midfield was a major problem for us last season, and although Hleb is good, he isn’t irreplaceable, and he didn’t contribute goals.

We now have Nasri to take his position and we will probably sign another midfielder if Gilberto leaves. The other good thing is that now Barca and Milan (Ronaldinho) have spent their cash we don’t need to worry so much about losing Adebayor, who although unpopular, is a key goalscorer for us.

Gilberto is on the way out, is Barry on the way in?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers1 Comment

So reports coming out of Greece say that Gilberto is in Athens for a medical with Panathanaikos. Henk Ten Cate, the new manager wants Bert to bolster his midfield.

Meanwhile Martin O’Neill has been quoted in The Sun confirming Arsenal’s interest in Gareth Barry.

“Myself and Steve Walford both know Arsene Wenger’s assistant Pat Rice. He phoned Steve to ask how the Liverpool thing had gone and said that they might show an interest. At the end of the conversation Arsenal said ‘that’s fine’ and that they’ll let us know. That is exactly what happened.”

So there;s nothing concrete, but it would seem that we are interested. This does make sense, especially as Gilberto may leave.

We looked stretched at times last season and although I have said before that we could cope with our problems by bringing through players like Diaby, it would ease the strain on the squad if we signed a new defensive midfielder

Last season one of our failing points was the lack of depth in the squad and this needs to be addressed if we are to mount another strong challenge for the title and improve on last seasons performance!

What do you think?

Gilberto leaving, Diaby in pole position, or a new signing?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers5 Comments

Gilberto may be leaving Arsenal for Panathanikos this summer. There has been a lot of speculation over Bert, mainly due to the fact that the whole season he was sidelined in favour of Mathieu Flamini.

Gilberto decided to stay and didn’t kick up a fuss, but acted professionally. He may be offered a new deal by Wenger, but it seems likely that he is going to leave for a fresh start.
Gilberto is reported to have said:

“I am very happy to come to Greece…Panathinaikos is a big club and if an agreement is reached with Arsenal I will be very happy to join you”

I think Gilberto has been a fantastic player for Arsenal, he’s had some ups and downs, but he has been very consistent, and professional in his conduct.

I respect him and if he does leave then good luck to him.

The question is who will fill the hole. The main candidates already at the club are Diaby and Song. Diaby has more experience and is more versatile, although Wenger has already hinted that Song will be used as a centre back next season.

There is always the option of bringing a player in, names such as Yaya Toure of Barcelona have been bartered around, but it seems more likely to me that Wenger will bring one of the younger players up. His transfer dealings may have peaked with the capture of Nasri.

That won’t be popular, but it might pay off.

Nasri is now an Arsenal player. What does this mean for the team?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

The biggest news of the close season has emerged; Samir Nasri has actually signed for Arsenal. He reportedly signed for £15.8 mill on a 4 year deal and is joining Arsenal for pre-season training on July 21st.

Arsenal’s style of play and the fact that Wenger gives young players a chance in the team encouraged him to join he said. Nasri should bring us some more versatility on the wing and will probably replace Hleb, who looks like he is definitely leaving. He can also play in the centre too.

This is a great boost for the club and shows that people should have faith with the club and our transfer policy. You can read Arsenal’s interview with Nasri here.

Wenger:

“We are delighted to be signing Samir Nasri. He is young, quick and technically an outstanding player. He has shown great potential with his performances for Marseille and the French national team over the past two seasons and he will add great quality to our squad.”

Nasri:

“I’m very happy to become an Arsenal player, it means such a lot to me. This is a very important step in my life as a football player because Arsenal is a massive club. I really hope everything will go well for me here. I will do my best for Arsenal and its fans and I am honoured to be part of such a great football club.”

Great to hear that Nasri has finally signed up, it looks like he will get a starting berth in midfield. It puts Eboue further back in the queue, as a fit Rosicky will always play. The fact that Gilberto is probably leaving too means we might see Diaby in midfield too.

Watch Nasri’s Goals for Marseilles and France