Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

Yann M’Vila
A lot of media in both the UK and France seem convinced that a deal has, essentially, been done to bring defensive midfielder Yann M’Vila to Arsenal from Rennes. Opinion is split on whether this is dependent on a third place finish or not.

It sounds as of the price is decided between the two clubs. It could well be that the player wants to wait until the Champions League position is clear. Fingers crossed that means next weekend.

But what would it mean for Alex Song? A bit of competition or are rumours of his departure a real possibility? Maybe Arsene Wenger wants the option of playing two holding players against the better teams.

Junior Hoilett
There also seems to be a bit of a media bandwagon for Blackburn’s Junior Hoilett as well. Not quite sure about the logic of this one, particularly with the Podolski deal done. Hoilett is a winger come striker, much like Podolski. We also have Gervinho. It could be an alternative to a deal for Benayoun, but I think that we have benefited from his experience.

Jan Vertonghen
Apparently we are about to be ‘snubbed’ by Vertonghen as he chooses Spurs over us. Typical life-cycle of a transfer rumour! First link a player to a club and build the story up. No firm evidence required. Then, when the unsubstantiated transfer doesn’t happen, switch to the ‘snub’ stage.

Personally I don’t get the Vertonghen story anyway. I think that our defensive problems are about the way we play rather than the individual personnel.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have lost to Liverpool. So they can do no better than sixth now. So they have to win the Champions League to play any kind of European football at all next season. A win-win for Di Matteo then: win the Champions League and Abramovich is so greatful that he keeps the job; lose and no big name will want it and he gets to keep the job.

Our win over City was the end of round 32, and the next set of matches starts today with Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea in action.  Four teams chasing two places. Here’s the countdown from now -

Arsene Wenger usually says very little about future transfers, so when he says he’s looking for a player then he really is looking to buy.  But is he looking for a stand-in or thinking long-term?

Personally I hope that he isn’t thinking very short-term.  I don’t think that another Silvestre or Campbell fits the bill.  We are still in four competitions (just) and not all of our existing central defender are guaranteed Hall of Fame contenders.  So if he can get the right player then I hope Wenger and the Club are prepared to splash the cash.

One player who seems to be ruling himself out is Per Mertesaker.  If true I think that’s good news.  I’ve never understood why people rate him so highly.

Anyway, Wenger says that ideally, if you have to buy in January you really want someone already in the Premiership.  If he sticks to that, the shortlist probably comes down to Cahill, Jagielka, Agger and Samba.  That would be my order of preference too, but I have my doubts about whether the last two are good enough.

If he can’t get one of the first two I think he should look further afield.  Someone like Jan Vertonghen at Ajax.

What do you think?

The only real rumours about are that we are still just about to sign these two. Well at least it isn’t rumoured that they aren’t coming after all I suppose! Let’s hope these finally come off this week.

Cole would be a good bit of business on a free. Koscielny looks strong from what little can be gleaned on-line. I hope that the Koscielny deal can be sealed so that Arsenal can get on with signing another central defender after that. One will not be enough.

Campbell may yet stay, and he was surprisingly solid when he played, but he is clearly no longer a week-in week-out player. Djourou may yet prove himself but over the last few years we’ve had to rely on too many players on the verge of proving themselves.

Arsenal really do need another mature central defender so hopefully there was something in the, now quiet, rumours of Subotic or Vertonghen. Maybe even Mertesacker, although I still reluctant on that one.

Maybe I’m just being bone-headed on the German, given their progress in South Africa but I still maintain that he has yet to be really tested.

The other gossip out there is a re-run of the Van der Vaart story. I think he’s an excellent player, but do we need him for a big fee? Unless Fabregas is going that is!

Koscielny will apparently be an Arsenal player by the end of the week.  I think that this is good news, though he’s not a player that most English fans no much about.

But he is a central defender and he isn’t a teenager so I think he fits the bill for the more pragmatic transfer window policy I think Arsenal need this summer.   If we sort out the defence and goalkeeping situation with quality players then I for one wouldn’t complain if we didn’t buy another midfielder or forward.

But Koscielny isn’t enough on his own.  We are losing three central defenders.  We need to get two in. When Arsenal had it’s most solid defence of recent years the manager could reliably choose any two from Adams, Bould and Keown. Or even play all three at once to win two nil at Anfield and clinch the title! And we had Andy Linighan as well.  This isn’t a plea to return to the Arsenal of Don Howe but we won’t win a title conceding the number of goals that we do.

So we need another central defender. Subotic would be good and Vertonghen also sounds promising.  I’m not so sure about Mertesacker.  I’ve only seen him on the telly during the World and European Cups and I don’t think he’s been that convincing.  He looks indecisive and not a particularly great tackler.  I still think that some team is going to take Germany’s central defenders apart in South Africa.

Goalkeeping gossip all seems to be about Schwarzer.  I think he is better than what we have, but I hope for someone even better.  Chamakh came on a free, so would the rumoured Joe Cole.  Koscielny is rumoured to be coming for between eight and ten million.  Surely we can afford more than four million for a keeper?

There is gossip now that more surplus Man City players are linked with Arsenal.  The Emirates seems to be Rumour Central this summer!

Not sure how much worth commenting on the Wright-Phillips and de Jong stories are but hey, it’s summer England are out of the World Cup and this is a blog right?  A player like de Jong would be a sensible buy.  Arsenal need more depth and Eastmond isn’t ready yet.  Denilson and Diaby are only good enough as defensive midfielders against weak opposition, they are better going forwards (where we are over-run with players, but that’s a different issue).  Song will play in the African Nations Cup every two years and needs some cover/competition.  And sometimes Arsenal could do with two holding players to see out wins against the best opposition.

Not sure what the point of Wright-Phillips would be. At the moment he seems to be defined as ‘speedy right-winger who doesn’t get enough crosses in’.  Think we’ve got that role covered as deep as we need at the moment.

Arsene Wenger says we’re getting a new central defender by the end of the World Cup, but who is it to be. The anti-climax answer would be a new contract for Gallas! It would be an almighty tease from Wenger. I think he’s got at least one more season in him, so I wouldn’t mind – as long as he wasn’t the only central defender signed this summer.

So who else: Koscielny, Subotic, Jagielka, Vertonghen? Koscielny is the rumour mill’s consistent favourite and he, or his agent, seem to be begging for the deal? Subotic is the biggest name and would be a great signing but could come with a big (£20m+ ?) price tag. Would that leave enough for a classy goalkeeper? Depends on Fabregas I suppose.

Don’t you just love the transfer window?