We have been told all weekend that the deal for Nuri Sahin is imminent with even the cautious BBC saying it’s on. I guess we’ll find out today. Then we will be hanging on every Wenger word to work out whether he intends more additions after that.
Some pundits are beginning to caution that this could be it and that the intention is to replace a defensive midfielder with a midfield do skilled that it never loses the ball. This sounds like people setting up Arsene Wenger for a fall. I doubt that even he would be as ludicrously optimistic as that. If we don’t get someone then it will be a matter of missing out on the right deal rather than a belief in fairies.
The rumour mill is at full pelt of course, well fuelled by the millions from the RVP and Song sales. Led by the French Canal +, hacks would have us buying M’Vila and Llorente this week. That would certainly be exciting and there are some solid quotes to suggest that both could be on the move. Whether their destination is Arsenal is another matter.
Meanwhile there are rumours about some of the players Arsenal could do with shifting. Arshavin back to Zenit St Petersburg and Bendtner to a big Italian club are as hardy as the dandelions in my lawn. Chamakh to Spurs is a bit more exotic.
Plenty like this rumour to illustrate the fall of Andre Villas-Boas to Europa League status and many Gooners will delight in the Arsenal reject angle. Personally I think that Chamakh has been unlucky and some of the comment received over-harsh. The recovery of Robin Van Persie’s fitness and form meant that he didn’t get time on the pitch. Strikers, more than most, need time on the pitch to stay sharp. Ten or fifteen minutes here and there isn’t going to do that and the ‘no goals in x appearances’ taunt becomes fairly inevitable. When he came he probably thought that covering for Van Persie would mean regular work. I hope that he does get a good move, to Spurs or otherwise.
