Arshav-IN?
Wednesday, 07 January 09, 04:03 AM
All aboard for the Andrei Arshavin Express!! But is there any truth in it? Yesterday, watching Sky Sports News it appeared that the Arsenal were indeed in talks with Zenit St Petersburg with regard to signing the rosy cheeked Russian playmaker, but as the evening wore on I became less certain. Indeed the whole story began to smack of a ploy by Zenit to force other interested clubs into staking their claim, particularly as any offer Arsenal make would certainly fall way short of Zenits expectations. A deal, apparently, is expected within the next 10 to 14 days… Is it though?! Is it really? I mean, a difference in valuation of about 8 million quid seems like a fairly major stumbling block to me. Last summer Arshavin ‘dreamed’ of playing for Barcelona, but Barca baulked at Zenits fee, as did a number of other clubs apart from Tottenham, who for some reason seem to have infinite money. On a personal note, I hope that the Arsenal buy Arshavin, it would be exciting, it would provide a boost to the players and fans and it would give us back an element of unpredictability in our attack. Purchasing Arshavin wouldn’t really solve any of our problems though, we still need a strong central defender and we still need a defensive midfielder to disrupt opponents and protect the back four. The Kolo Toure chatter won’t die down despite our rejection of his transfer request and if Manchester City did offer an eye-watering transfer fee, knowing the Arsenal as I do, I think we would take it. As I said yesterday, Toure leaving would mark a sad day in the modern history of the club.
The trouble is that if we did sign Arshavin, I can’t imagine that we would then sign anybody else. We have publicly stated that we aren’t looking to sign Inler, despite wanting him in the summer – what has changed since then? Rosina has been told he is going nowhere. Yaya Toure is adamant that he is staying at Barca, although I did hear a rumour that (guess who?!) Manchester City were looking to bid some ludicrous amount for him. West Ham say that Matthew Upson is not going to leave the club, but in reality I very much doubt Mr Wenger has even considered resigning him.
Let’s move away from idle speculation for a moment and look inwardly. Fabianski, boosted by the news that he is in line to play in all of our FA Cup games this year, has claimed that he is happy to work hard and try to displace Almunia as our Number 1 between the sticks. Good lad, I like a bit of hard work. How different the relationship is between Almunia and Fabianski than between Almunia and Lehmann. I hope that we don’t try and sign Shay Given. I don’t think goalkeeping is the weak link in our chain. Definitely not a priority. Adebayor, a player who loves to talk to the press has been saying that we will fight for every point blah blah blah, I should bloody well hope so as well, that’s your flippin’ job!
Going back to an earlier point, how the hell do Sperz spend so much money every transfer window? I realise that they sold Berbatov and Keane in the summer, but for a couple of years now they have frequently been spending upwards of 25 million every year. How can they afford it? How come so many of there purchases turn out to be a bag of sh!te. The re-signing of Jermaine Defoe has really marked them out as a joke club. Selling a player and then buying him back a year later is ridiculous. Also Redknapp’s treatment of Pompey is deplorable, despite his weak protestations that Pompey are getting a good deal. I bet Defoe can’t believe his luck. A player that is average at best getting these massive sign on fees etc. How can a club spend so much and continually only have the Carling Cup to show for it? Now I know that we have been trophyless for many a year now but at least we have been playing in the Champions League every year and sort of challenging for the Premiership. And we have spent a pittance. I don’t know, the world has gone mad!Like this blog? Help spread the word: 
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Burgervan
GB
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