The Sahin deal is just another one of these drawn-out transfer sagas we have become accustomed to. It happens with practically every transfer we are involved in – for players coming in or players going out. Some say we are just trying to squeeze out the best deal, which may be true. But with Twitter there is an appetite for faster news and there is a medium for rumours to spread. So panic ensues.
We are at a point where some Gooners think that we’ve already signed Sahin, and Arsenal are just delaying the announcement. The more sceptical believe that we won’t get him at all; Mourinho is an evil man who is set to get his wicked way by stopping Sahin’s move to the club. I think it was Marca that started the rumour that Mourinho wants Sahin at Liverpool because he’s pals with Rodgers. And that rumour came from the Real Madrid boss simply mentioning Liverpool’s name in a press conference!
The Daily Mail has stated that the deal has hit a snag – that Arsenal want an option to purchase at the end of the 1-year loan. This kind of deal obviously requires more negotiation than the loan on its own because we need to agree a fee. And we know how long it takes Arsenal to agree a fee.
So everyone is worrying that Sahin will be off to Liverpool instead of Arsenal. Which would be a massive shame – the poor guy will have to play alongside Allen, Adam, Henderson, Carroll and Downing. But I don’t think Gooners should be too worried. He’s a very good player but we do have plenty of midfielders and Wenger has said he wants to bring in another midfielder. If not Sahin, there will be someone else.
And while we look to bring in one talented player, another very talented (but lazy) one looks set to leave. ESPN are reporting that Zenit have changed their minds about signing Arshavin permanently, as opposed to the previously reported loan deal. This would be great news because we need to get rid of squad players on high wages. And we need to get rid of some of those midfield/attacking players that aren’t getting games – it’s unfair on them. And I’d prefer Arshavin went back to his old club rather than signing for Fulham or another Premier League team. I don’t want him playing against us – he’d inevitably do really well.
Now apart from transfer news, we also have a few people in football taking a swipe at Arsenal. After the media frenzy at the weekend following the embarrassing 0-0 defeat at home to Sunderland (yes, I know it says defeat), former Gunner Eduardo has said some harsh things about the club.
“It’s a big mistake to sell them – they were the most important players last season. But they have other quality players to stay as a big club at the top.
“Every player comes to Arsenal as a simple player and Arsenal make them into a big player.
“But they can’t keep everyone together to fight for titles. Every year it’s similar – they lose players, buy players, make them class players and the next year they sell again. They are always in the same place.”
It’s a little bit ironic that Eduardo himself didn’t leave Arsenal as the big player that he says “every player” becomes. But we get his point. We lose our best players every year but can’t compete blah blah blah… Aren’t the media tired of saying the same thing? How was this the big news item on the BBC Sport website yesterday? It isn’t news, it’s just another ex-Arsenal player having a go at his old club because it’s easy to do so. But why is it only Arsenal fans, and never the media, that praise Wenger’s achievements? And why is it that few journalists are noticing the manager’s stark change in policy since his darling Fabregas left the club last year? The type of transfers we are making are very different to his previous philosophy and far more frequent. We have already signed three top players this summer and look to be adding another two.
But it wasn’t just Edaurdo who has been having a go at Arsenal. The knowledgeable Robbie Savage has said that we are no longer a big club. The big clubs are Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City. Because he says you have to define a big club based on recent success (which isn’t true – what about their history, their stadium, their fans?).
Now let’s assume that the league is the best way to measure success (which it probably is, because you can win a cup by being lucky). Didn’t we finish above Chelsea in the league last season? And if we are talking about recent success, then we can look at how City have only been successful for two seasons – before that, Arsenal finished above them.
So we can safely say that Savage is talking rubbish. Unfortunately, he is becoming an increasingly successful pundit. He should try to learn a bit from Gary Neville. The guy talks sense, he’s impartial and he doesn’t regularly forget what he was saying. If the media were full of Gary Nevilles, I don’t think Arsenal would have nearly as much disproportionately bad press.
I think we don’t have to be too excited about Sahin, it was another plot of those useless Spanish press who are just to deflect their economic woes. But i am surprised to see our club announced Song left before they gets someone in. In fact, i would consider the move to be pure stupidity especially when we are dealing with those greedy French clubs whom i think hated AW to the core. I am sure we will pay more now if we are trying to buy from French clubs.
But i won’t be surprised to see AW telling us that he got Walcott to sign extension and considered him a ‘new’ player. We have seen it happen before so don’t be surprised if he does the same again.
But Liverpool is also not having an easy life, a 3-0 on opening day is good enough to frighten any prospect away. Who wants to play for a manager who is going to be sacked before the season ended.
Must say I agree entirely about Savage and Neville. Savage is a Pratt of the highest order and is only using Arsenal to get his name in print, if he spoke about Leicester no one would blink or read it. Neville I hated as a ManU player and that means he was a good’un. but to be fair as a TV pundit he is getting better and better, and is totally unbiased so well done Mr Neville keep it up. Also we now realise what a dipstick the Andy whats his name was.
we already have our 17 man quote of non-homegrown players, so its not simply about bringing players in. as for song he was classed as homegrown even now he has gone we still have 9 homegrown players which is 1 over the limit. i basically think wenger is protecting the players at the club and their value. if he announces that he has signed 2 more non-homegrown players, the likes of chamakh, park, squillaci and arshavin will be really pissed off. also their value will drop as it will be obvious that the club are in a desperate need to reduce their quota. with the non-homegrown it is similar although not so urgent. bendtner and eastmond, both know their futures are away from the club, whilst lansbury and walcott are both in their final year.