I've spoke about this eventuality before, but it looks more an inevitablity, than a possibility now. Just want to gauge people's thoughts.
Apparently Sagna has decided to leave the club. Arsenal made a 'final offer' some weeks ago (apparently) that the player and his agent weren't happy with. Neither party was/is prepared to budge on that. Sagna's been a brilliant servant for Arsenal, but I don't want to dwell on that here, that's for another thread. It'll be sad to see him play against us, which he inevitably will as he 'plans to remain in England'. Moving on...
Just to muddy the waters a little more, for my money, surely Vermaelen will follow-suite & leave the club this summer? Koscielny & Mertesacker have the centreback positions wrapped upand by proxy of that Vermaelen is 'back-up' & essentially a squad player. Understandably a player of his ability will want/need to be playing 1st-team football.
People come & people go, it's apart of the inevitable cycle of existence. What interests and to some degree worries me a little is that for me replacing this duo might well prove more than a little tricky.
We know their virtues, they're both integrated into the 'Arsenal way', Prem savy, experienced Internationals etc... They're also fairly versatile. Sure one's a rightback, the other a centreback, but between them they can (& have) competently covered positions in an auxiliary fashion. Sagna being able to 'fill in' at centreback & leftback and Vermaelen being a competent, if not completely 'natural' leftback.
Serge Aurier (who's been superb at Toulouse this season) is widely touted in France to have already provisionally agreed a summer move to Arsenal where he'll replace Sagna at rightback. He's hot property and has no shortage of admirers, so I'd maybe hold fire on that rumour for now.
Losing both Sagna and Vermaelen means Arsenal will NEED to bring in replacements. Not just on a fundamental level in terms of bodies, but very likely in terms of cover. A bit of versatility for the said replacement(s) is surely going to be desirable?
Also, experience-wise, Arsenal are going to be a bit light. Any would-be centreback signing will surely come to the club with knowledge that they'll have a mammoth task to usurp one of Koscielny or Mertesacker & realistically they're going to be 'back up'. It won't be easy to find a player of notable quality (all be it not impossible) who is ready to come into the fold under such a scenario.
Any thoughts?
Moist
Replacing Verm & Sagna
posted on 7/5/14
Any signing is a gamble, yaddayadda...
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True, however you can soften the blow by buying players in advance. If Sagna's contract had a year left and he wasn't agreeing to a new one then perhaps last summer you're best buying a replacement who can get up to PL standard over a season with Sagna still here, instead of pinning all our hopes on him resigning or being able to get a ready-made up-to-standard replacement that's not our typical approach.
posted on 7/5/14
True, however you can soften the blow by buying players in advance. If Sagna's contract had a year left and he wasn't agreeing to a new one then perhaps last summer you're best buying a replacement who can get up to PL standard over a season with Sagna still here, instead of pinning all our hopes on him resigning or being able to get a ready-made up-to-standard replacement that's not our typical approach.
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Yup.
I know it's all words and spin. But Wenger's interview and his unofficial 'season review' the other day left me feeling bittersweet. I though he was very honest and spoke well. Didn't sound delusional at all (as some have suggested), he actually came across very well and his thoughts going forward sounded progressive & encouraging... Until he started talking about future transfers!
He's cagey at the best of times when pressed on such matters (which is understandable). What grated at me was there was an air of excuse-making prior to the window even opening. The same old chestnuts came out and the World Cup being a stumbling block (to signing players) was on the menu...
I hope the club don't balls this up over the summer.
posted on 7/5/14
You see having two experienced defenders leaving plus a top notch no 2 goal keeper, we will have to buy 3 players alone to cover. Then a couple more at least in other areas. 5 players is too much for Wenger IMO. I just hope that we aren't short in areas again because this cycle will never ever end.
posted on 7/5/14
Piszczek as Sagna's replacement. Yes please
posted on 7/5/14
Just to really get silly.
Several sources in Germany are claiming that Javi Martinez (may well be bulls h ! t) is unhappy at Bayern, dislikes playing out of position etc. Bayern might be tempted to sell, but only in excess of £30/35 million.
He's not overly quick, but he's one of the brightest readers of the game (playing a deep midfield role) going imo.
IF (big IF) he were available, even at 35 million big ones he'd be an absolute dream signing?
posted on 7/5/14
Well I think he's up there with the best defensive midfielders in the game. If you want the best you have to pay top dollar and I think we really should go for him. May mean no Cesc but with the money in the bank I expect big signings. Realistically ain't happening.
posted on 7/5/14
He's not overly quick, but he's one of the brightest readers of the game (playing a deep midfield role) going imo.
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Im sure i saw his keep up with Bale in last weeks game. cant be that slow if he can do that.
posted on 7/5/14
Schneiderlin tops the Premier League rankings for both interceptions (139) & tackles (146) apparently, at a glance anyway...
posted on 7/5/14
He's not overly quick, but he's one of the brightest readers of the game (playing a deep midfield role) going imo.
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Im sure i saw his keep up with Bale in last weeks game. cant be that slow if he can do that.
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It's always been assumed, rightly or wrongly that IF he has a weakness, it's his pace, but it's certainly never held him back.
I don't think he's lightning slow or anything so dramatic, probably more so that he's such a great all-round player, but he's not lightning quick and that (maybe) gets highlighted..?
For me he's a pearl of a player, has a bit of everything.
posted on 7/5/14
Not sure if it's been mentioned already, but the bonus about potentially signing Aurier is his versatility across the back four - can fill in at CB or LB if needed
The only concern I have about him is the fact he'll be off to the ACON during the second, and more crucial, part of the season