NASRI SIGNS: New look squad starting to take shape
1 comment July 11th, 2008
Arsenal have needed a player like Samir Nasri for a good while now. Since the decline of Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires, our wide midfielders have never quite made the grade. Tomas Rosicky has been too injury prone, Aleksandr Hleb too indirect, and Emmanuel Eboue has been Emmanuel Eboue. Judging by Arsene’s comments at the announcement of Nasri’s arrival, he believes this boy could be different:
“We are delighted to be signing Samir Nasri. He is young, quick and technically an outstanding player. He has shown great potential with his performances for Marseille and the French national team over the past two seasons and he will add great quality to our squad.”
In the past few years, Arsenal have bought two midfielders from Marseille: Robert Pires and Mathieu Flamini. Hopefully Nasri can emulate their achievements and have the successful Arsenal career that such a drawn-out transfer seems to warrant.
One slight worry is Nasri’s Hlebtastic scoring record – just 11 goals in 145 appearances for Marseille. However, there’s plenty of evidence that Nasri possesses the shooting prowess that Hleb never did. In a better side and playing alongside the likes of Fabregas and Van Persie, I believe he’s capable of plenty more.
Nasri’s arrival is believed to have cost around £12m – the same kind of fee we will receive when Aleksandr Hleb completes his move to Barcelona. Another player who could follow Hleb out the door is defensive midfield stalwart Gilberto, who could be set for a move to Greek side Panathanaikos.
Hleb and Gilberto would join the likes of Mathieu Flamini, Jens Lehmann, and Kerrea Gilbert in leaving the squad. Thus far, Nasri and Aaron Ramsey have been signed to bolster the midfield ranks, with Carlos Vela returning from loan, but I have the feeling the Summer won’t finish without at least two more arrivals. The starting line-up againt West Brom (which will, incidentally, be the first of the entire Premier League 08/09 campaign) could be almost unrecogniseable. Exciting, really.
