Well we all know about Thierry Henry. Subject to a deal over injury insurance he will join Arsenal this week until the end of February. Nobody seems to think that this will be completed by tomorrow night’s game. I guess it’s not the sort of thing those meerkats sort out.
The next biggest rumour is that we will sign Lukas Podolski from FC Koln. Plenty of football websites and some mainstream media are reporting that Arsenal are set to offer £10-13million for the German international. If the story is true it may take a little more to get him. Arsenal can afford this, but is it true?
I think that Arsene Wenger wants a new striker. Chamakh can’t score in the odd games he gets and he doesn’t like playing out wide so he won’t get a start ahead of Gervinho or Arshavin. Something’s not right with Park. Wenger talks about his acclimatisation period but Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santos and plenty others have done all that on the pitch – straight off.
Is Podolski a credible purchase? Yes. He’s talked about leaving Koln and about moving outside Germany. Per Mertesacker has been talking up the possibility. Definite possibility.
Next issue is leftback. Until Thomas Vermaelen limped off, Arsene Wenger had been playing down the need for action on this. He rightly pointed out that we have four good fullbacks, they’re just not fit at present, but will be back. Now, with no Vermaelen he’s talking about how dumb it would be to drop points because we don’t have a leftback available. He won’t buy, but a loan is a distinct possibility if he can pull one off.
The two names the media have in the frame are Bridge and Taiwo. If it has to be one of those I would prefer Taiwo. But I’ve got a horrible feeling that Bridge us the more likely. Mancini would like to shift him, even if only for half a season.
Now for ages everyone has been talking about Gotze or Hazard. Personally I don’t see either of these happening this month. Neither strikes me as an obvious winter deals. In the summer maybe, but why would either player or their clubs go for it now?
Two other names getting an airing are Yann M’vila and Lucas Biglia. Both are interesting players, but are we really looking for a bother defensive midfielder? Is Arsene Wenger about to switch tactics and play two holding players? Not sure I go along with these stories. I think that they are both agent talk.
So, Podolski – yes please, Bridge – if we must, Henry – I’d even be tempted to buy a shirt! I’m not expecting anything else this winter.
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