Archive for July 27th, 2005

Baptista deal surely off – Time to look elsewhere?…

25 comments July 27th, 2005

It looks for all the world like the £18m transfer of Julio Baptista won’t happen.

Quotes from this interview with ABC Seville include:

ABC- So, the Arsenal move is ruled out?

Baptista – I think so, for the time being I don’t want to go there.

ABC- Have Wenger and Dein been a pain?

Baptista – Absolutely not, they told me they wanted to meet me and that’s what they did. They said the were interested in me and they’ve demonstrated it.

ABC- Have you told Arsenal your wishes yet?

Baptista- I told them it was very important for me to get the nationality, and they said that anyway they were going to try to sign me.

ABC- But if you don’t want to go, what are they going to negotiate with Sevilla?

Baptista- Of course, it’s complicated. My thought is to stay here, next year we’ll see what I do.

ABC- But Sevilla could be interested in letting you go for the money Arsenal is offering.

Baptista- It’s me who must make a decision, and the people who work with me.

——————

Doesn’t look great, does it?

The real shame is that, due to his versatility, he would have killed two positional birds with one stone – not only could he have filled the midfield void left by Patrick Vieira’s departure, but he would also have been equally adept upfront.

Arsene is famous for waiting to secure his targets, and he may decide to try and pursue Baptista at a later date.

However, with the new season looming, surely some investment is required.

Personally, I believe triallist Philippe Christanval will sign. Alex Song, on the other hand, may well return to France for one more season, after which he could well become an Arsenal player.

But that leaves our central midfield options as follows: Gilberto, Flamini, and Fabregas.

Admittedly, both Pires and Hleb can fill in there, but they lack the physical presence to make a real impact.

A player with experience, power, and superb technique is required. Some might suggest, in that case, that our failure to pursue Edgar Davids is bizarre. But Davids is not the player he once was.

Instead, I’d like to see Arsene turn his attentions to Bayern Munich’s Brazilian international, Ze Roberto. Although he plays on the left wing for the Germans, his international role is as a holding midfield player.

His left-footedness would bring balance after the departure of Edu, and his pace and strenght would fit perfectly into the Arsenal style of play. If we can afford Baptista, we can afford Ze Roberto.

By the way, since my last update, we’ve won two friendlies. Not much of any real significance to report, apart from a rather brilliant individual goal from Alex Hleb against Ritzing.

Anyway, tata.


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