Wenger: “It would be pretentious to say we’d sign anybody now before the season starts”
Add comment August 10th, 2009
This weekend Gunnerblog was decidedly blogless, due principally to the fact that I was essentially healthless. I spent the best part of the weekend in bed with what felt like a global conflict occurring in the pit of my stomach. Suffice to say, I am somewhat better now – healthy enough to type if not yet entirely reverted to type.
As I write this I’m on a train from London to Edinburgh. The train appears to have lost patience with the entire thing and has sat down on the tracks, refusing to move. I might be here for some time.
I’m making about as much progress as Arsenal’s transfer dealings. Asked in the aftermath of the friendly defeat to Valencia (I game I saw nothing of, I confess) if anyone was likely to sign before the start of the season, Arsene retorted:
“Not at the moment, no.  We are working always but it would be pretentious to say we’d sign anybody now before the season starts.”
Now, whilst it doesn’t look promising at first, it’s worth bearing in mind the fact that the interviewer asked if anyone would arrive “before the start of the season”. Which means: in the space of five days. It’s hardly surprising that Arsene considers that unlikely.
Increasingly, I believe we will sign Marouane Chamkh and Marouane Chamkh alone. I don’t think Bordeaux are foolish enough to risk losing him on a free when we’re prepared to pay about £6m. I’d love Arsene to buy a centre-back and a central midfielder too, but I’m finding it more and more difficult to forsee either of those things happening.
Cesc Fabregas talks about the importance of a solid centre-back partnership and I’m convinced Arsene has decided that for this season that will mean Vermaelen and Gallas. The Belgian has missed the last three games of pre-season due to injury, but should be fit for the opener at Everton on Saturday. I’m convinced he’ll prove to be an important acquisition over the coming campaign.
Jack Wilshere has been called up to the England u-21 squad as a replacement for the injured Fabrice Muamba – a fairly indirect replacement, mind: I hope Stuart Pearce isn’t expecting wee Jack to perform like a lanky ball-winner.
Finally, Barcelona seem to have intimated that they wish to sign Cesc Fabregas, but only if he’s available cheaply.
Barcelona, it seems, are stupider than I thought. Throw in the fact that they paid around €35m + Samuel Eto’o for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and one has to marvel at their sheer idiocy.
Cesc will go there eventually, but not now. Lest we forget it’s his first season as captain, and he’ll want to make his mark.
