Transfer deadline day looms and Arsenal are still in the market for midfielders, this is not
idle blog gossip but Arsene Wenger stated we are short of players in this area. This became
self-evident in recent games were the creativity has been left to Rosicky and his best days are
behind him.
Today is a day we will all go mad in following rumours and tweets.
The 8-2 defeat at the weekend has forced Wenger into the transfer market, rumours are flying
around everywhere.
Two deals that are virtually done will Park Chu Young join Arsenal from AS Monaco. Park is
South Korea's captain and a striker who does not have an impressive record in club football.
After yesterday's debacle, it is time to take a step back and see where we are, how did we get
he and what the future holds. There is no point in analysing yesterday's match, it is certified XXX
in the minds of all Arsenal fans.
We all knew it was not going to be an easy match but the roots of the result go back, probably
two or three seasons ago.
After yesterday's debacle, it is time to take a step back and see where we are, how did we get
he and what the future holds. There is no point in analysing yesterday's match, it is certified XXX
in the minds of all Arsenal fans.
We all knew it was not going to be an easy match but the roots of the result go back, probably
two or three seasons ago.
Nasri leaves for £24M, to add to the departures of Cesc £35M, Eboue £4M and Clichy £7M. That
is £70M so far, with Bendtner (£9M), Arshavin (£7M) , Squillaci (£1M) and Almunia (Free) to
follow. Arsene's total sales could generate nearly £87M. Yes Arsenal fans look at that number
£87M generated through sales this summer.
It's now or never for Wenger. The squad is the weakest since Arsene's reign started that there
is no doubt. Suspensions and injuries are mounting and we have only played three games. Our
squad for today included two players who are outward bound and contained 8 youngsters.
Whilst we could see the potential in both Frimpong and Miguel today, trophies are not won with
potential, but as Wenger told us in May with experience.
The next three matches are the most important matches in Arsene's time at Arsenal. Never has an
Arsenal team been so short of quality players and never has our season hung on thread so early.Â
Three defeats and the fans will be calling for Arsene's head, three undefeated games and Arsene
will have bought time to restructure the squad.
At the end of last season we heard that this was going to be a busy transfer window, Arsene
Wenger had stated that we lacked some experience, we were weak in defence and all Arsenal fans
cheered. At last Le Boss was prepared to spend money to resolve our defensive weaknesses both at
the back and in midfield.
Arsenal fans deserve respect, the respect I am talking about is from our captain Cesc Fabregas.Â
Everyone knows his club as a child was Barcelona, but he of his own free will left them when he
was 16 years old to join Arsenal. He and his family made the decision that his career will
flourish at Arsenal rather than at the Nou Camp.
All media outlets appear to be suggesting that Juan Mata should sign sometime in the next 48
hours, which is great news. Also confirmed by our Chairman and this is a rarity, Arsenal never
comment on transfer news and every time Hill-Wood speaks it is to say something against the
existing players, Arsenal have made an offer for Jagielka.
Another day of excitement for Arsenal in the transfer market without anything actually
happening!
Mata has been reported to have tied his colours to the Arsenal mast and rejected Harry
Redknapp's overtures, and nobody actually blames him. Spurs have had their one season In the
Champions League, the DVD Box Set has been produced to keep the fans sweet, whilst Arsenal with the
acquisition of players like Mata and keeping van Persie fit will challenge for the title next
season.
As we approach the Emirates Cup and Wenger's self -imposed timescale for transfers, there are
favourable rumblings.
One of Spain's leading sports newspapers Marca is quoted as saying that Arsenal are close to
finalising a deal for the Valencia winger Juan Mata. The deal is being held up as Tottenham,
surprise, have launched a late bid.
When the season came to a close, Arsene stated that we needed a bit more strength and experience
in the squad, in particular in defence. The old sage has since enlightened us with the fact that
he will be busy this summer, this was then refined that most business will be done at the end of
July .
Arsene Wenger must be on the look out for a striker this summer.
We know van Persie can score goals, but we are also aware that he is unlikely to go through the
season without a major injury keeping him out of action for 3 months. So long as RvP is fit he
will bang in goals for fun, but with an international break coming early September, this is the
call sign for an injury whilst playing for Holland.
Saturday morning brings about more transfer rumours, speculation and heart-ache for Arsenal
fans.
Samir Nasri is reported to have rejected Arsenal's new offer of £115K a week. This is on the
back of some newspaper reports stating that Nasri's representatives having agreed a deal
withManchesterCity.
Reports in The Sun claim that the Board want Wenger to spend money this summer. They are
feeling the heat from the fans; this is self-evident with swathes of empty seats beckoning for the
forthcoming Emirates Cup. With 8 days to go there are plenty of seats available. The club has
been advertising heavily in the London Evening Standard and Talksport has been heavily involved in
promoting the tournament.
The pre-season tour to the Far East is over and we are entering the transfer season. Wenger
told us that clubs will wait until the end of the month to make their moves and Wenger will be one
of those. Ivan Gazidis said he spent the week in the Far East to discuss Arsenal's transfer
strategy with the boss.
Whilst it's still early in pre-season and players are still finding their feet, some patterns
are emerging after two games.
Wenger's early acquisition Carl Jenkinson looks a good buy. He never put a foot wrong in
either game. As the pre=season friendlies move up a level it will be interesting how he copes
against Cologne and Benfica.
Having virtually sealed the deal for Gervinho, Wenger is looking to finalise his next signing,
with Valencia and Spain midfielder Juan Mata high on the list.
Mata is a consistent player with Valencia, captaining Los Che last season to a Champions League
spot. Whilst the player has not requested move, Valencia's financial situation means they have to
sell just to stand still.
The focus of the football world is Samir Nasri. The little mercurial midfield maestro, who was
proclaimed the little Zidane is the centre of a massive tug of war.
Nasri has not signed a new contract, he says money is not the route of the dispute, Arsenal have
offered £90,000 as week and Nasri wants in the region of £110,000 a week.
The long awaited signing of Gervinho is to be announced this afternoon, with the Ivory Coast
striker undergoing a medical at Arsenal. Terms between the player and the between the clubsÂ
have been agreed, so unless there is something that crops up in the medical, Gervinho will be our
first signing of the summer.
Will there be a flurry of transfer activity on deadline day at Arsenal?
Philippe Senderos has left it late to find a new club and the rumours are that either Portsmouth
or Hull City  will make a move for the Swiss international. This is a mighty drop after playing
for AC Milan and Arsenal, but with no other takers and Senderos being sixth choice after Gallas,
Vermaelen, Djourou, Silvestre and Song, it is best if the Swiss stopper moves to a team that will
give him regular football.
One of the main stories doing the rounds is a £30m bid; yes read it again a £30m bid for
Roma's central midfielder Daniele di Rossi.
Where did all this speculation come from? Well a couple of days ago an eagle eye blogger
www.gunners4life.com spotted that Daniele di Rossi was being shown as an Arsenal player on
Wikipedia.
Reports in The Guardian and Daily Mail are saying that Arsenal will finally sign Blaise Matuidi
from St Etienne and possibly bring back Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira.
 Matuidi is young at 22, but so what, Vieira was younger when he became a regular at Arsenal
and Manchester United will be relying upon Anderson in midfield this season.
We will have a better indication tonight if Arsenal has made a bid or in talks with Fulham over
their centre back Brede Hangeland.
Hangeland has been an Arsenal target since December, well a target as far as the newspapers and
cyberspace is concerned, yet Arsenal does not appear to have made an approach.
Reports in The Times and both London Lite and The LondonPaper state that Eboue is on his way to
Fiorentina. Â The Times goes on to say that the player, or rather his agents have agreed a 5 year
deal.  Fiorentina have offered £5.6m, whilst Arsenal values the player at £8.6m.
Fiorentina's coach Cesare Prandelli said: Eboue is a very important player.
As the Austrian training camp draws to a close, Arsene and his staff have a better understanding
of where the squad needs to be strengthened in particular now the Adebayor has left and Toure is
virtually a Man City player too, whilst Eboue and Senderos are also looking at Arsenal exits.
If Arsene sold the remaining four players he would have £55 million to spend, but before people
go mad, he will not spend that sort of money.
The press and radio are having another field day with Arsenal, writing about our demise before a
ball has been kicked. The rationale behind this theory is we haven't spent any money so we will
struggle to qualify for the Europa League, never mind the Champions League.
Well let's look at this matter in detail.
It's the great Arsenal defence clearance.Â
After Eboue was linked with Fiorentina and the Italians expecting to make a move this week, we
anxiously await to hear the fait of Phillipe Senderos. Wenger has stated that the Swiss
centre-back has several offer s and the final decision will be made by Senderos.
Are Arsenal about to say goodbye to another of their enfant terribles? Reports in to Il
Corriere dello Sport claim that Arsenal have agreed a fee of €9million for Eboue with
Fiorentina.
Eboue was rumoured to be part of the deal to sign Felippe Melo but that deal did not
materialize, instead Fiorentina have returned to offer Arsenal a cash offer for the Ivorian
right-back.
We know that Arsene Wenger is monitoring Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh, the boss told
everyone that. We also know that Chamakh would love to come to the Emirates. We have a vacancy
now as Adebayor has left and with the terrible news that Nasri will be out until October; this
means that both Arshavin and Walcott will spend more time on the wings.
Whilst Arsene Wenger has been quiet in the transfer market with regards the first team, the same
cannot be said with the youth recruitment programme.
Arsenal have signed Jamie Edge a centre half from Cheltenham Town. The youngster is 15 years old
and will be one of many additions to the youth set up this summer.
Now that we have seen the back of Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsene has £25 million to recruit a
replacement, but do we need another striker?
Arsene Wenger has plenty of attacking options at his disposal before he even has to look
elsewhere.
Robin van Persie showed us what he was capable of doing last season, when during our dark months
of December and January he either created or scored every goal.
Several website are reporting that Arsenal's pursuit of Marouane Chamakh to replace Adebayor has
run into trouble. The stumbling block and this does not make sense is that Bordeaux want
Silvestre as part of the deal.
 What is strange is that it was widely reported that the Moroccan striker had a £7million
buyout clause.
The news Arsenal fans have been waiting to hear all summer... Adebayor is on his way to
Manchester City.
 Manchester City have reportedly agreed a fee in the region of £20million for the want-away
striker with Arsenal and the Togo striker and his agent are in Manchester to agree a contract.
If there was ever a put down, then Bordeaux President Jean-Louis Triaud takes the top prize.Â
On hearing that Sunderland were interested in Marouane Chamakh, he merely stated, "I don't want
to insult Sunderland, but I don't even know where they finished last season.
"You have heard him say he will only sign for a big English club.
There is plenty of mis-truths being thrown around over Melo. The Italian press are stating
that Juventus are in talks to buy the Brazilian midfielder and thus thwarting Arsenal's attempts at
luring Melo to the Emirates.
But once again in step Fiorentina, and they dismiss all these rumours and skulduggery.
Arsene will be focusing on rebuilding his central defence this summer. This rebuilding has
started with the acquisition of Thomas Vermaelen, but it will not and cannot end here.
 Of the central defenders on our books from last season, four of them have contract that expire
next summer.
The confusion over the potential transfer of Felipe Melo has been somewhat clarified by
Fiorentina with an official statement. The Italian club has stated that Melo has not signed for
Juventus.
The club has made it clear that there is only club that has made an offer for Melo, who recently
signed a new contract that included a release clause of £21million.
Adebayor holds the key as to whether we see two or more players move to Arsenal this summer. Â
Unlike last season when Wenger was determined that Adebayor will not leave, this season he is
"easy" with the situation. In fact I have never known Wenger "tout" a player as he has done with
Adebayor this season.