Arsenal Transfer Window Preview: Vela, JET, and Arsene’s softening stance
32 comments January 3rd, 2011
Can you feel the gusty breeze of speculation upon your neck? That’s from the freshly opened transfer window.
It’s a time when fans of relegation-threatened clubs pray for a saviour, and title-chasers seek the missing piece in an intricate jigsaw. And it’s a time when Arsenal fans imagine what it might be like to support a team that buys people.
If there is to be any activity at the club, it seems most of it will be outgoing, so let’s take a look at those first.
OUT
Manuel Almunia is likely to be the highest-profile departure. Arsene confirmed last week that there is interest from Spain, and the return of Vito Mannone from an impressive loan spell at Hull suggests he probably has one foot out the window already. Which is, on reflection, a rather precarious position to be in.
Havard Nordtveit is almost gone already, which is something of a surprise considering how high expectations were for the young Norwegian. Back in preseason, a Gunnerblog profile of the defender predicted he’d be a regular part of the first team squad, but the signing of Sebastien Squillaci and Emmanuel Eboue’s deployment at right-back rather than right-wing saw him frozen out. Now, Arsene says that Nordtveit, 20, needs to leave and play regular first-team football. The manager frames it as an altruistic decision, but the main driving force behind the deal has been the player himself, who handed the manager an ultimatum by refusing to sign a new deal until he was guaranteed more playing time. The result: an impending move to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Carlos Vela is another young player who has found first-team opportunities hard to come by – though when presented with opportunities he’s hardly seized them with both hands. The Mexican has made just three starts this season, and now finds himself behind Robin van Persie, Marouane Chamakh, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, and Andrey Arshavin in the queue for a first-team spot. Arsene has now suggested that a loan spell might be the answer.
Vela has already spent two loan spells in Spain as he waited for a work permit to move to England. There’s no point in him returning to that sort of football and climate. If we want to try and develop him in to a Premier League player, he has to stay in this country. Most sides in the top division would benefit from a finisher of his undoubted talent, and he could learn some essential lessons about top-flight football in this country. If, however, Vela’s loan spell takes him abroad, I’d imagine it’ll be the last we see of him.
Another young South American joins the club this week: Brazilian striker Wellington Silva. After failing to win a work permit, Wellington will have to follow Vela’s path and head abroad on loan, most likely to Spain.
There are a couple of English youngsters in the squad who could benefit from a temporary move: Craig Eastmond could do with learning his trade in the rough and tumble of the Championship, whilst Jay Emmanuel-Thomas could benefit from playing in an attacking Premier League side like Blackpool. We know that JET has remarkable talent, and he’s demonstrated that at Championship level before. Now he is urgently in need of regular games. There isn’t room for both he and Carlos Vela in the same squad. The next six months is an opportunity for them both to audition for the one available spot.
There’s been a bit of chatter about some of the more established squad members, like Bendtner or Denilson, leaving. That’s rubbish. Don’t click it, don’t read it: it won’t happen.
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As well as Vito Mannone, a couple of other players will return from loan spells. Aaron Ramsey is back from Nottingham Forest this week, with only one start under his belt. The snow disrupted his loan spell and made it somewhat redundant, but he could be involved in cup-ties against Leeds and Ipswich over the next fortnight. What a reception he’ll get when he steps out on to the Emirates turf. I don’t expect him to play too many games between now and the end of the season – if he can steer clear of injuries and make the odd sub appearance that’d be great, ahead of a full pre-season in preparation for 2011/12.
Henri Lansbury‘s loan spell with Norwich will also be up in mid-January, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s renewed until the end of the season. Lansbury is getting vital experience, and making a few waves at that level. Arsene is insistent the combative midfielder is part of his plans, but there’s no immediate room for him at first-team level.
“What about actual, proper signings?” I hear you cry.
“Oh, erm, yeah. About that…” says I.
“Listen, we’ve come this far. You better have something for us…”
Well, I haven’t got anything concrete. As things stand, we’re not really on the market. But that could change very, very quickly.
A month or so ago, Arsene was insistent that he wouldn’t be buying. That stance, like my gut over Christmas, has softened somewhat. He’s now just being absurdly cryptic:
“I don’t say no and at the moment I say we are not close to signing anybody.â€
Presumably that’s because Arsene is sensible enough to recognise the frailty of his squad in certain areas. With Thomas Vermaelen still a good few weeks from returning, any further casualties at centre-half could force Arsene’s hand.
Equally, an injury to Alex Song would leave him without a recognised defensive midfielder. Arsene is reluctant to buy a player who might stunt the development of the well-regarded Emmanuel Frimpong, but Frimpong is still a few months from returning. If, God forbid, Song were to pick up a knock, Arsene might have to open his wallet concrete-covered steel safe.
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Will Arsene bring in a player without an unfortunate catalyst? Probably not. But that won’t stop us wishing and hoping and praying and rumouring and clicking.
The Transfer Window is upon us. Enjoy it while it lasts.
