June 8th, 2011
Gunnerblog, this very morning:
“There’s a bit of buzz on twitter about a potential new signing being announced today (Wednesday). A few ‘informed’ folk would have you believe it’ll be Gervinho.
Let me tell you: that will not happen.”
And so, predictably, at lunchtime, Arsenal announced a new signing.
I say “new” – this deal was done towards the back end of last season and has been one of English football’s worst kept secrets. Finnish right back Carl Jenkinson has joined from Charlton.
Young Guns have got the lowdown on the new recruit. By all accounts he didn’t pull up any trees in League One, so I’d suggest he’s some way from ready for first-team football at Arsenal. Those expecting Emmanuel Eboue to be moved on to make room for the 19-year old are probably being a little hasty.
Elsewhere, Blackburn defender Phil Jones is having a medical at Manchester United after agreeing a £16m move. Rumours suggest he turned down interest from other clubs including Liverpool, Spurs, and Arsenal.
Of course it’s possible he decided to stay up North to be around his family. But thinking about it logically: if you were a young centre-half, would you come to Arsenal to learn your trade? Thought not. Jones has followed Chris Smalling’s example and opted for United instead.
It’s not a huge blow – whilst Jones will doubtless mature in to a fine player, I would suggest the last thing we need is a 21 year old centre-half. We want someone a bit more battle-hardened than that.
Over to you, Arsene.
June 8th, 2011
When people talked excitedly about a “summer clearout”, I doubt this is what they meant.
Only Arsenal do summers like this. Whilst clubs like Liverpool prepare to lavish themselves in inordinately expensive new signings, we’re facing up to the prospect of two absolutely key players leaving the club.
The importance of Cesc Fabregas cannot be overstated, and nor can the threat of losing him this summer. The latest noises from Spain (and the excellent new addition to the Arsenal online network, Arseblog news) suggest Barcelona are readying their bid.
If there is a growing sense of inevitability about Cesc’s departure, then Samir Nasri becomes all the more important. Nasri is our most similar midfielder, and the obvious inheritor of the central playmaking role in the light of Cesc’s departure. And yet his future too is in doubt. Unless a new contract is agreed within the next few weeks, Nasri will have to be sold.
Incredibly, Arsenal find themselves in a position whereby they could lose two star players this summer – against their will.
There’s a bit of buzz on twitter about a potential new signing being announced today (Wednesday). A few ‘informed’ folk would have you believe it’ll be Gervinho.
Let me tell you: that will not happen. Arsenal will be putting tentative feelers out about potential recruits, but until they know what is happening with Cesc and Nasri they cannot possibly draw up any kind of reasonable transfer strategy.
The longer this drags on, the weaker our position will be. If we lose one or both players late in the summer, we will be scrabbling around looking for replacements.
It’s an Arsenal summer. And it could be a long one.