Top of the morning to yall
Welcome to 2013 and we start the New Year with open sesame
declared on the transfer window and as regards to Arsenal, it’s been more of
talk than action so far. We confirmed the loan deal for Chamakh to West Ham
yesterday, and its really good to see the some dead weight getting off the
squad list while Djourou and Squillaci also look to be on their way soon.
Their exits leave us short of options in the squad. In attack
for example, we are a Walcott or Giroud injury or suspension from having just a
single striker in the club at the moment.
Arsene has admitted he would be busy this January in terms
of transfers and while it’s what everyone wants to hear, history has made us
believe that when it comes to transfers, we might do well not to believe
everything Arsene says. This time around, I think he knows he has to improve
his squad, it’s the only way he can mount a sustained challenge for the famed
fourth place and probably a trophy to end his trophy drought this season.
Here are some realistic targets that could make an impact on
the reminder of Arsenal’s season if we act fast enough.
Adrian Lopez
The Atletico Madrid forward is one of the many that has been
touted as a possible signing for Arsene in recent weeks and its not difficult
to see why. Coming from the same Real Oviedo youth system that produced the
likes of our own Santi Cazorla and Juan Mata , he’s a more versatile forward
than Olivier Giroud and can operate in any of the front three positions. He scored
19 goals for Atletico last season and was instrumental in the Madrid side’s run
in lifting the Europa league where he scored an impressive 11 goals for his
team in Europe. Price is definitely one major consideration when a club like
Arsenal try to sign a player and fortunately, this player is well within our
price range and could be available for around the £15million mark if Arsenal shows
concrete interest.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
At 23, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has achieved something that even
some Arsenal greats such as Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie failed to
achieve in their careers; captain a championship winning side. Blessed with a
strong body and a powerful engine, he could be a real asset to the Arsenal
squad if we could acquire his services. He can play in all four defensive
positions as well as the defensive midfield position that Mikel Arteta
currently occupies. At 23, he is definitely still learning his trade but its
obvious that the unmistakable talent is there and with a manager like Arsene Wenger
to tutor him, he could be one for the future and could cost us as little as
£10million.
David Villa Sanchez
El-Guaje as he is
fondly called in his native Spain, David Villa needs no introduction in
football circles. Experience, goal scoring, versatility and everything required
of a modern striker to succeed in the modern game, Villa has got it all and
while there is interest from both the player and Arsenal to do the deal, the
main stumbling block to the deal seem to be the £16million that Barcelona are
reportedly holding out for, and for a 31year old, I doubt if Arsene Wenger would
pay that much. But if he can do the deal, only time will tell.
Nani
Nani is also another player that has been linked with
Arsenal in recent weeks and despite Arsene Wenger already denying the reports
that he won’t sign anyone from Manchester United already, I am inclined not to
argue too much with that claim. But why not? He would be invaluable to our
squad. United bought our best player at the start of their season when there
was an altercation between player and club and since there is an altercation
between Nani and SAF, I wonder why Wenger is not moving in to capitalise. Maybe
its time we also play the politics of the game to give us some leverage as our
rivals. Maybe it’s the players wage demands that is putting the club off one cannot
tell, but few would agree with me that Nani is a player that would add great
influence to our current squad with his pace, trickery, shooting abilities and
versatility.
I have to admit though, this is the least likely player to
join Arsenal of all the afore mentioned players and even if there was will
between the parties, we might have to cough up as much as £20million to secure
his services.
Theo Walcott
Y’all didn’t think I was
going to leave him out did you? And despite everything that has been written in
the past about his protracted contract saga, the club would do itself and the
fans a good favour by securing him to a long term deal so we can put all the
news behind us and he can concentrate on playing some good football
consistently for the team.
There is no football today but we open our FA cup account
tomorrow at the Liberty stadium against Swansea that have become some sort of
banana peel for us in recent times. The cups seem to be our only hope for
silverware this season and a victory tomorrow against Swansea would keep that
dream alive.
God bless the Arsenal.
You can share your thoughts and comments in the comments
section or you can follow me on @NigerianGunners on twitter and I would be glad
to follow back and reply your tweets.
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