Deadline Day Is Upon Us
15 comments August 31st, 2010
The tempestuous nature of this day is such that by the time I bring you this news it will probably be out of date.
Here’s a quick run down of the mights and might-nots for Arsenal:
Mark Schwarzer
This is the big one. After a summer of chasing a new keeper, it comes down to the next eight hours. However, the decision of Shay Given to remain at City as well as the injury to Fulham’s David Stockdale means a move looks improbable at best. At the moment, our number one for the season will remain…
Manuel Almunia
If, by virtue of a last-minute miracle to give Michael Thomas a run for his money, Schwarzer does arrive, then surely Almunia will have to be on his way? We’re overstocked with keepers, and a new signing would leave us with five in the first-team squad. Of course, given the choice, I’d sell Fabianski, but only a fool would buy him.
Armand Traore
Linked with loan moves to both Birmingham and Juventus. I suspect Arsenal would rather he went abroad, though whether cash-strapped Serie A would be able to meet his wage demands is in question.
Henri Lansbury
Subject of a tug of war between Championship clubs Leeds and Swansea, both of whom are trying to capture him on loan.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
The monstrously powerful JET is linked with a return to Doncaster, although I’m fairly certain that Football League clubs can continue to sign players on loan after today’s deadline, so I’m not sure how pressing this one is.
Some news already in – Mikael Silvestre has joined Werder Bremen, which has to go down as a significant boost to Spurs’ Champions League chances. Speaking of former Gunners, Alex Hleb is rumoured to be on the verge of a return to the Premier League with Birmingham. That’s coming back down to Earth with a rather big, ugly bang.
Daniel Taylor of The Guardian aptly borrowed the following quote from Macbeth to describe Deadline Day:
“…it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
Well said, that man. That man being William Shakespeare. And Daniel Taylor. And the “idiot” in question will be Sky Sports News’ shouter extraordinaire, Jim White.
If it all gets a bit much for you, you can take a lighter-hearted look at the whole thing over on Threeandin.
For up-to-the-minute Arsenal-based panicking, follow me on twitter.
