After another goalless draw, the media were quick to question Wenger over whether he will make any more signings. Rumours have been gathering pace that Arsenal is set to raid Newcastle for Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye. Both players were the at the heart of Newcastle’s fantastic campaign last season but seemed to be staying at the club. As we enter the last week of the transfer window, agents and journalists are likely to fabricate stories for their personal gain. However, Wenger has said he wants another midfielder, if someone “special” comes along. Furthermore, a player already in the Premier League would help ease the transition that has perhaps made it difficult for our strike force to be as fluid as we would like.
He said the following during a Sky interview after the game:
“Tiote is a good player, but he’s not on his way to Arsenal.”
The Mirror is reporting that we are looking to make a £15 million bid for the Ivorian midfielder, who has scored just one goal in his 54 appearances for the club. That price seems a little high, especially when many consider Tiote a very similar player to Song. He may even be a little worse on the disciplinary side – he received 14 yellow cards in just 28 appearances last season. Pardew vowed not to change Tiote’s style, but was disappointed that his player would miss games due to his recklessness.
Wenger’s comment may just be a cryptic message so as not to reveal his interest in Tiote, but I genuinely think Arsenal don’t need the player. We have a powerful midfielder in Diaby, and Arteta is taking up the defensive midfield role quite brilliantly.
The other player supposedly on our radar is Yohan Cabaye, the 26 year old French midfielder who played at Lille alongside Gervinho and Hazard. He was excellent last season, netting five goals and grabbing 8 assists in 38 matches. He was called up to the French squad and had a very good Euros. Again, there are reports that we are preparing a £15 million bid for the player, but I think Newcastle would hold out for a higher fee, especially at this point in the transfer window. Pardew said:
“All my players are important, and they are hard to replace now.
“You lose a big player now and you try and take someone out from somewhere else and they want a replacement and time is suddenly running down. You can’t get anyone in and we want to avoid that.”
As good as Cabaye is, do we need him either? He reminds me of Ramsey before his injury – accurate passing, decent long shot and good movement. He’s a top midfielder, but we have Arteta, Diaby, Cazorla, Wilshere, Rosicky and Ramsey who can all play as the creative hub.
I’d love to think Wenger is preparing an exciting transfer such as this, but it may be too much to ask. I’m sure someone will come in, I just don’t think it will be a French international playing at a top Premier League club who will demand at least £20 million for the player.
That is a lot of straight talking.
Now I think if Wenger was going to raid Newcastle it would be for either Cisse or Ba,
He has the funds for one of them and enough change for M’Vila.
Yes, Diaby is a great midfielder but he;s not a DM and Wenger has specifically said a bought midfield has to defensive. He’s definitely going to buy a DM, whether he’s the right player or not. Time is not going to allow Wenger to ponder on stuff like price because he he sold Song too late un the transfer window to allow for that. If we don’t get a DM I will be disappointed.
I would have Joey Barton rather than no DM, that’s how bad i think we need one. Frimpong would be great and trusted by me if he wasn’t always a sicknote.
Coguelin is more of an Arteta, a forward playing midfielder with good passing skills who doesn’t mind taking up defensive duties while the Manager finds a proper DM.
i would even move Vermaelen into Midfied as a DM when Koscielny returns if there is no DM. That too is how badly we need an out and out DM. We’ve needed one since Gilberto left. Flamini was the only guy since then who was like a DM. Song was too forward and not covering the defense much of the time.
Now Wenger is reported to have asked for patience.He had been saying the same thing since his y project.
I believe he has been given more time than otherany high profile manager.If he can’t deliver ,he has to go. As simple as that.
I’d really wish you’d stop saying “…we have Diaby..”, as if this was a good thing. 1st off he is not reliable, bloke is injury prone (will be a miracle if he lasts the season), and he usually picks them up by tackling poorly. Secondly he is a hot head, and takes matters into his own hands far to often (sent of against Newcastel 4-4 ) instead of letting the refs decide what’s best. And last but not least he holds onto the ball far to long and has a poor work rate in retaining possession when HE loses the ball…He cld probably be a squad player but is MOST DEF not a starter. Don’t get me wrong he wasn’t useless against Stoke today, but he is not the answer to our midfield problems…..if the club are unwilling to buy a proven CDM then use Coquelin and Frimmy in rotation and play Cazorla and Arteta in the mid bcuz Cazorla needs help he can’t do it alone the guy is quality but won’t last the season if he has to carry the team every game. Cabaye is a decent player and won’t come cheap…and honestly i believe it will be a waste of money so i agree with you there and with the Ramsey comparison, we don’t need him….Sign Dembele, he too won’t come cheap but is much more diverse in midfield and is the type of “powerful” midfielder we need…not Diaby…Nice piece regardless……..#COYG!!!
Bryan on Diaby – “he is a hot head” – so you’re taking that one and only instance in over 100 games v Newcastle when Joey Barton went through him like a steam train for your prognosis?
Idiot.
Stay in your armchair. You know nothing.
The stats don’t lie. Arsenal have dominant possession and shots but can’t win the game. This has been going on on for years.
I don’t know.When you look at how other teams play and score,you wonder why the gunners find it so difficult to score?Perhaps the tactcis need to be looked into.
Otherwise it will be the same old tune being replayeda being replayed all over agin and again.
Perhaps Wenger is the problem.
It’s a given that we will sign M’Villa. With 5 days to go to the transfer deadline, Rennes will accept about £10m for him and Wenger will have the player he always wanted but at the right price. Cabaye is not better than Arteta or Cazorla or Wilshere and is similar in every way. M’Villa is what we lack – a player solely devoted to stop the opposition in midfield. He’s not interested in attacking, he’s not interested in assists, he’s not interested in dribbling. He stops the opponents and restarts our attack. He is perfect. And he is ours. 100%