How One Player In Could Signal Four Players Out

Isn't it nice when a transfer happens quietly and quickly?

By now you're likely to have seen that Arsenal have completed the transfer for central/left defender Thomas Vermaelen.  The Belgian was the current Ajax defender and comes with a good reputation.  And outside of Vermaelen or his agent mentioning to everyone under the sun that he was moving to Arsenal, no other word was heard about it for weeks.  Definitely not from the club, who didn't even deign to have Arsene Wenger come out and deny it like they usually do.  Maybe they felt that, in a summer where everyone is focusing on the goings on at Madrid and where David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero, Samuel Eto'o, David Silva and so many other talented forwards and midfielders could all end up elsewhere, that no one would really be interested in where one defender went.

But as anyone who saw Arsenal last season can attest to, a quality back line is mandatory to mount any sort of assault on the various competitions available.  

The question arises though: who will Vermaelen partner in central defense?  And that's where debate will start.

William Gallas had about as poor a run as you can have in the first half of last season and still find yourself in a team.  It's a testament to how he turned his form around post-December that he was not tossed on his butt when the transfer window started.  Then there's Kolo Toure actually handed a transfer request back in January, as he was fed up with being dropped from the Starting XI in favor of Gallas.  Not to mention that Kolo's feelings for Billy Gallas lie somewhere between"dislike" and "drop him in a volcano."  Oh and Manchester City has been hot on his trail and could offer up a rather impressive transfer fee for his services if they so want him.  And finally we got Mickael Silvestre....Good bye and good luck in France.

Meanwhile, with his loan spell at Milan ended, Phil Senderos is back in town.  And while I think he still has room to grow and become a quality defender -- was it so long ago he was an anchor for both the Arsenal and Swiss National Team defenses?  -- it's unlikely we'll hang onto him with Vermaelen and Djourou capable of filling his role.  

The rumor mill has already begun spinning tales of Senderos (and even Eboue) as part of a a cash + player deal with Fiorentina with Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo.  Take a look at Melo as he plays with the Brazilian NT during the Confederations Cup and tell me you wouldn't want him.  I'm actually in favor for it for all involved.  Fiorentina needs depth to battle in both Serie A and the Champions League.  Hopefully that deal can be completed by the end of the Confederations Cup and we can unveil Cesc's new midfield partner.

I just hope we don't hear about it until the unveiling.