1. I think that Wenger is still trying to push his French-African schtick.
He’s still trying to big up Diaby and now Song is being compared to Fabregas.
Old habits die hard. Although I think Song has had a really good season.
2. I think he’ll try and buy some French rejects from Chelsea in the summer.
Kalou, Malouda, you know the story by now. I absolutely definitely wouldn’t buy Kalou. Malouda to me seems a temperamental tart: blows hot and cold.
Arsenal need to buy reliability, work ethic this summer.
I think a lot of it depends on the attitude of van Persie. Will Wenger clear out enough fringe players to cut the wage bill and pay van Persie more?
Stories are being run in the DT, but then Wenger’s official blog (blog.emiratesstadium.info) goes on about how ‘we don’t need to buy in the summer’.
The author, as usual, is the Belgian referee who goes to about 4 games a season max. Doesn’t dip into his pocket for a season ticket. But like a typical self-righteous priest, tells the congregation what they ought to want.
My view is this:
Here is the core of next season’s squad from this season’s one: Szczesny; Sagna, Jenkinson; Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker; Gibbs; Song, Arteta, Wilshere; Walcott, Rosicky, Gervinho, AOC, van Persie.
You decide whether Fabianski is good enough to play 20 games as Number 2: if not, you sell him and bring someone in. I’d give him one season under those terms and if he fails, he’s out.
Clearly, Wenger intends Djourou to be in the squad or he wouldn”t have given him a new contract.
Santos has one season to prove himself or he’s out. Gibbs is starting to mature but needs a run of games.
Leighton Baines?
Podolski is clearly to be added up front.
That leaves a central midfield role, two attacking midfielders/wingers and whatever youngsters you might add. I suspect one of those will be Ryo Miyaichi – doesn’t look bad and big in Japan, so good for the TV money.
You kind of suspect the central midfield slot will be Diaby. I’d try and buy Rodwell and ship Diaby, but I’m not Wenger. He’ll stick with Diaby, although it should be next season he produces or he’s out. No show pony egos and become Mr Consistency. Utilise your athletic frame and cut out the party tricks. Win tackles in midfield, score goals and use your height in the air.
Looks to me that you should sign one big attacking midfielder (real star).
Along with Podolski. And if it were up to me, I ship Djourou and Squillaci and bring in another quality Central Defender.
The Star should be signed before the end of May. You want the squad complete before pre-season training starts. Bonding to happen on the club tour. And understanding achieved within the squad prior to the first EPL match of the season.
What would be even better if the club announced six exits before the end of May.
That would leave 3 months to clear out whatever else needed to be cleared out by the end of August. And the chance of signing that central defender. If they did that, they’d be announcing themselves as serious challengers.
Wenger’s contract should be terminated if he doesn’t think that being serious challengers is his sole justification for a salary of £7m+.
For 3rd or 4th place, you get £4 -5m. Tops. You want £7m, you challenge for the title and embrace what that means. If he doesn’t like that, tough.
The sponsorship deals start coming up for grabs in 2014 and if Arsenal have won the title again, the value of that contract will be far more.
Fact of life. Deal with it.
Myles says : You’re an optimist, Rhys.
And before you’re an optimist, you’re a Gooner- and you’ll never stop being a Gooner.
You’re too kind to Fabianski and Diaby.
Djourou will never be an Arsenal centreback but he’s becoming the manager’s adopted son. Deal with that, Rhys.
I wouldn’t buy Kalou either but he’s better than Chamakh or Walcott or Gervinho(“It’s only opinion.” – Brian Clough)
The talented Rodwell is a crock and has been over-rated by me on ANR.
BTW, Wenger earns £8m.