If Anelka really is available, we should be interested
183 comments August 18th, 2007
The other day The Times ran a piece suggesting that Bolton would be willing to part with Nicolas Anelka for around £10m, and that Portsmouth and West Ham could be interested. With the greatest of respect to those clubs, Anelka is better than that. He’s also better than most of our attacking players, which is why Arsene would be mad to turn his nose up at our former frontman.
Granted, I don’t have too many positive things to say about Anelka as a person. But he hasn’t caused an ounce of trouble since he arrived at Bolton. Is it possible that Le Sulk has finally grown-up?
As for his on-field qualites, we already know all about those. His goal against Newcastle on the opening day exhibited his fantastic touch, pace, and finishing, and only a brilliant performance from a man who had irritated us just a few days earlier, Tony Warner, prevented him from adding to his tally against Fulham.
With Theo Walcott required as cover on the wings, we have four strikers in Eduardo, Adebayor, Van Persie, and Bendtner. One of these is a teenager who Arsene feels is not yet ready to start, and another will disappear in January for the African Nations Cup. Another has yet to play in the Premiership. Furthermore, none of these options possess Anelka’s key attribute: genuine pace (an opposed to that scourge of the game, “fake pace”).
Arsene’s Friday ArsenalTV interview revealed he was “not close to signing anyone”. Whether or not he’s bluffing we’ll never know, but I would be very disappointed if we allowed a player of Anelka’s quality to join a club like West Ham for a fairly reasonable fee.
One signing that we’re all waiting for is Arsene’s contract. It’s been a bit of a soap opera, but it seems it’ll all be sorted soon.
Blackburn Preview tomorrow. But looking ahead, I have to say I’m worried about the game.
Have a good Saturday.
