Defender sorted in Jan? Players on the move and the signing we all wanted….

It’s Friday and it’s the rumour catch up day.

I’ll start with the defender, Phillipe Mexes. He’s currently at Roma but his contract is up at the end of the season. In January he is free to talk to clubs about a move and Wenger is supposed to be very keen to sort a deal out which will see him join us next summer.
Mexes is just under 6’2” tall and is a player who has been bantered around the Arsenal blogs for many a year, could this finally be the time he makes his move??

Well, the way we going Wenger could need to get his man or another in January but not to join next summer, we need cover now and January can’t come soon enough to sort that out.

Next up is Balázs Dzsudzsák, a 23 year old left-sided winger who plays PSV and Hungary. Dzsudzsák finished the 2009/10 season with 14 goals and 16 assists. In a Europa game against PSV he was shown a straight red card by Mike Dean after he gave him a bit of a shove…

Another one which will be no surprise but Bolton have confirmed the player may have to be sold to help funds at the club. Gary Cahill is suggested to be valued at £15 million and with that kind of price I can’t see Wenger bothering to enter any race to sign him.

Would you pay £15M for him??

Andy Carroll is another player who some think we are going to make a cheeky bid for in January. He could be just what we need up front but there is little to no chance of him heading our way. He’s English and would be overpriced and he’s got a bit of a reputation off the field already and he’s only young. Shame really, I can see him scrabbling around on the ground trying to get to one of Sagna’s crosses 😉

Next up is Barcelona youngster Bojan Krkic – he has allegedly decided that it’s time for him to leave Camp Nou and in the summer he could be on the move to the Premier League. Manchester United, ourselves and Chelsea are all being linked. Basically he has become fed up of waiting for a run in the side in Barcelona and thinks he’d be better off moving. He’s a winger/striker and is 20 years old. This one is definitely a load of tosh.

Ian Wright has told his son Shaun to leave Man City in January so no doubt we will be linked to him again soon and Reina is said to have told Hodgson he wants to quit Liverpool in the same window. I suspect the latter will be heading to Manchester United to replace the OAP there, while Shay Given could also be up for grabs. January could be a busy month in the world of football.

We can be linked to who we like but the one big signing we have made this week is that of  Wojciech Szczesny and this is what he and Arsene Wenger had to say….

Arsène Wenger said:

We are delighted to secure the long-term future of Wojciech, who we regard as a very important part of our Club’s future. We have all seen his huge potential, both in training and in the matches that he has played for us, so we look forward to seeing him develop further in the coming years.

Wojciech Szczesny, well he’s obviously happy too,

It’s a great feeling to sign a new contract with Arsenal and I’m so pleased. The negotiations happened very quickly and it was easy. I’m now looking forward to continuing the hard work on the training pitch and doing my best whenever I have the opportunity to play in the Arsenal first-team.

I would just like to thank everyone that has helped me get this far, especially Liam Brady, Roy Massey and all his staff at the Hale End Academy. Also Neil Banfield, Steve Bould, all the backroom staff, Arsène Wenger, everyone at Brentford that helped me kick-on last season and all my team-mates here at Arsenal and, of course, my family.

Finally, a quick mention for the ladies who thanks to a late late goal from Katie Chapman, secured their place in the Champions League Quarter-Finals yesterday. Arsenal won the second leg 4-1 against Rayo Vallecano despite playing the last ten minutes with  ten players having had Gilly Flaherty sent off!  Well done gals, lets hope the guys can follow your lead!

Well there you go, that’s it for today……

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stonroy
stonroy
15 years ago

Nice round up there. Thank you.

Ziggy
Ziggy
15 years ago

IIt would be a dream to have Bojan and Mexes in our squad. Great news about Szczesny!

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Morning all…

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

Morning!
Welldone lady gunners, you always always do us proud and we appreciate!

Glad that Chezzney has signed as we we know we have a solid back-up in goal incase Fab-pink-aski should slip. Almoveover should be shown the way out with a bag of chips and a handshake (am I being harsh here?) 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Mexes is overrated big time!bojan has actually regressed since rijkaard left.i’ve never been impressed by Cahill.Dzu… of psv is very good and is currently the best Hungarian player.

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago
K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Hi Tbuzz.fabby2 is doing very well.i remember telling rico fabby had some of the best reflexes i’ve seen.i just hope he continues to improve.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Caroll has been impressive but he needs to do that consistently over a couple of seasons since we’ve seen many one season wonders.

Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

What nonsense.
Mexes is far to old and far to over rated, Cahill doesn’t have the ability to play the Arsenal game and as for Carroll, would anyone be interested in signing a player who A) Beats up his girlfriend B) has little to no ability with his feet C) passes the ball into touch 5 times per game??
Use your brain for 10 seconds before writting this drivel.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Howard has said fabpinky is a fantastic goalie and that 90% of criticism goalies receive is unwarranted.i agree!

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

33!! Rico!! lol

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

Kevin, as much as everyone is entitled to their own oppinion, there are ways of expressing it even if you do not agree with what the other person has said.
I will suggest you mind how you blog here or else you will be barred by the lady of the house who has been very tolerant allowing everyone to express their views but in a sensible manner.
Saying “Use your brain for 10 seconds before writting this drivel” is simply just rude and I’ll appreciate it if you’re going to blog here again, conduct yourself like a gentleman…unless you’re not. Then I’ll ask if you would kindly P*$$ Off!

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

We have hit the woodwork 11 times more than any other team in the league.

Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

Firstly it’s not news relating to Arsenal’s, it’s click whoring lies concocted to generate ad cash by the larger newspaper sites. To regurgitate it without seeing that is simply lazy journalism.
That is not to say that I’m accusing this site of click whoring in case people misread that.
Secondly you must see the irony in, whilst on the one hand telling to behave like a gentleman on the second swearing at me?

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

We are also bottom of the fairplay table and frankly speaking i like it.the likes of shawcross and the rest of the northern softies will dread facing lil jack.they’ll have to watch their legs…i meant their arms.

Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

intellect.

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

WATH, its never too early. I am one who cannot stand people being rude and obnoxious especially if they seem to speak from their ar$e more than their mouth.
If he wants to engage in a sensible debate, we are all happy to be involved. Otherwise, he can go blog with the Spurdz!!

K-TR7, imagine if all 11 had gone in?
🙁

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Wath its like we have a crossbar challenge in a match.i remember in 08-09 rvp10 had 20 goals and 16 assists in less than 40 games.in the same period he slammed the frame of the goal 16 times!!!

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Arsenal have won 80% (33/41) of the games djourou has started in as a CB.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Who is kevin?…from where i was seated i couldn’t see him.maybe i’ll check the replays later.

Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

I concede that it is rude to simply imply that the article is drivel. For this I apologise. I also acknowledge the fact that people do dedicate their time to write articles and my curt response was at the very least disrespectful.
However it is tiresome to read that Arsenal have shown an interest in Carroll or Mexes, they seems to me to nothing more than a poor man’s Bendtner/Cahill. The Mexes story in particular has been around for a very long time.
My point about those not being Arsenal related is that it clearly hasn’t come from an Arsenal source or with any credit from anyone the club. It carries the scent of a tale slapped together by someone desperate to fill back page inches before the presses run, which gives credit where it isn’t due.
Regarding the Squillaci deal, the key for me is that he was an unknown effectively. My guess is that the wage demands and contract negotiation were far easier with him because of that than it would have been with a player of Mexes’ stature, who I would hazard a guess at was looking for a large final pay packet. That’s before you ask him to try to adjust to the Premier league as a player.
As you say though I don’t know the details and may well be wrong.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Rico subotic is now a very good defender but B.Dortmund are cruising right now and wouldn’t entertain the idea of selling him in jan.

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

I feel so sorry for TV he was a Godsend last season and was rightly called The Vermaernator for being a solid and commanding defender…
I do agree though, we neeed to find a replacement for him ASAP, especially as Koscienly seems to be a Red Card Magnet! 🙄

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Agag described Tv as coffin hot wath…what does that even mean?am sad for Tv as he is a superb defender and am sure he must be devastated by his injury.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

To be fair to Aw we had djourou,kozzer,Tv and squilli as our Cbs at the start of the season with song and nordveit as backups.

oliver
oliver
15 years ago

morning all…great news that szczesy has committed to us. i do not expect arsene to shop for a goalkeeper now. fabianski had a great bounce-back performance and while the fear that he can regress to what he was last season is always present, he seems to be able to put that behind him.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Hi oliver.did anyone watch madrid vs Athletico last weekend?CR7 riled the athletico madrid players by passing the ball to Alonso with his back without even looking!it was sheer brilliance and i cannot understand why the likes of reyes were complaining in the media after the game.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Its also a shame that this year’s El Classico will be played on a Monday.

oliver
oliver
15 years ago

morning k…didn’t see it…perhaps ronaldo’s show-pony rep figured here, and the atletico players thought he was taking the mickey with them??

oliver
oliver
15 years ago

if atletico had gotten a result, perhaps they wouldn’t have complained…

oliver
oliver
15 years ago

hi rico…i saw some – was there anything egregious? yesterday was the veteran’s day bank holiday over here. neither my wife nor i had that day off, but school was closed, so one of us he to stay home with the kids – that was me, and i did not get an opportunity to check in until the evening, and then only for a little while…

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Im eagerly awaiting the Milan derby although inter have so many injuries the latest casualty being Samuel for inter.Milan’s Inzaghi is also out.speaking of inzaghi i heard Samuel will be marking him in the hospital to prevent him from appearing in the penalty area in the derby…

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Morning all my lovelt Peeps! 🙂

I was thinking of being supercilious about Rico’s Post, but seeing how you all dealt with Kevin, I chickened out! 🙂

Actually Rico, you know I love the style of your Posts!

Anyway fair do’s to Kevin for having the guts to apologise. I understood where he was coming from, but if he visits this site often, he will know we chat about everything, but in a civilised way that he will like as much as we all do.

I wrote a Post on AA today, and immediately got attacked for my inadequate grasp of English grammar and syntax, which might well be true. Of course, the literary genius concerned only made a hit and run put down and did not return.

I think it’s called “penis envy”, and he had every right to be envious!! :roll

Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

My assuption was that in buying Squillaci Wenger was investing in a mentor for the Nordtveit/Bartley to come through, using either of them and him/Koscielny as the partner.
With the injury to Vermaelen there is a very large spanner in the works, should it be long term or worse then things change considerably.
However I don’t believe Wenger will dip into the market in January, we played with 3 centre backs for all of last year effectively.
For the sake of debate though I’d put forward the name Danny Agger? He moves out of defence well, is good in the air, communicates well and is deceptively strong. On top of this he has found himself rather unfairly on the periphery of the team at Liverpool.
That is all dependent on the length of time Vermaelen is out of course, the length of time would dictate the age of the player

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Oliver that ‘back’ pass almost lead to a goal.it was quite brilliant.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Kevin i do rate agger very highly.Milan are also rumoured to be after him.what am wary of is his injury history but other than that i would have no problem with us signing him.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico,

I have just received an email from AFC, that almost defies belief.

Basically it is saying, “great news folks” … the 2 hour Fans Forum show on Arsenal TV, on Friday nights, has now been transformed into a 1 hour radio show, which meets fans needs”.

So they have changed the “television” show, on television, to a radio show … yes a radio show.

I am off to immediately cancel my subscription to Silent Stan’s crap “television” station, to show how much it meets my expectations!

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Bendtner has threatened to quit if he doesn’t start games…

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Sorry Rico,

I wasn’t “touting”, just being sympathetic.

Have you read your emails lately? 🙂

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Does that include WATH and me ? 🙂

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

WATH,

You are a naughty gnomic gooner. Your predilection for curly toed boots and Max Wall tights is well known. 🙂

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

Bendtner wants to leave? Fine, and he should take Almoooniah with him!
It’s not the 1st time he’s said something like that. Even when he was on loan at Birmingham he threatened to move on if Arsenal couldnt guarantee him 1st team position?
Away with him!

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

T-Buzz,

He probably thought he would try the same threatening tactics as Chezzer. Thing is though, Chezzer is potentially brilliant. Dream on Bendy! 🙂

WATH, you are one of the main reasons I frequent Highbury House, I can’t fight it! 🙄

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

Get a room you two! lol

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Boo! rico, it’s only the Dzsudzsak link that I find a point of interest. I don’t like the rest, and won’t consider it any loss if they never wear an Arsenal shirt. 🙂

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Oh and T-Buzz, Bendtner should stuff a sock in it. 🙂

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Hey, WATH. Howdy?

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

WATH, no thanks and I’m sure he heard you as well! ::lol

AGAG, a sock and his famous pink boots! He has no right to wear pink anymore, now that we have the Wonder that is Fab-pinkaski!!

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

WATH, no thanks and I’m sure he heard you as well! 😆

AGAG, a sock and his famous pink boots! He has no right to wear pink anymore, now that we have the Wonder that is Fab-pinkaski!!

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

echo..?

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Gibbs in the squad to face Everton.diaby responding well to tests-Aw.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

WATH, 🙂

Agag, entirely agree with you. Boo sucks to the lot of them except Dzuz… er duzch … to hell with it, you know who I mean! 🙂

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

KT,

I saw clever clogs CR and his sublimely instinctive pass. Actually, joking aside, he is still getting better and better. Can’t get over Arsene not signing him for us when his pen was hovering over the contract. Damn United! 🙂

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Haha, TB. That’s odd though. WP usually detects duplicate comments. 🙂 I think Bendy can bear going down the pecking order… but Fabianski staking claim to his favorite color must have been the final straw!!

KT, it’s good to know that someone can deputize at LB. Although having said that… I’m not sure we should rush back Gibbs. (And obviously, Clichy is a favorite) Diaby… He can go on extended hols. It won’t make much difference to me.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

Hello, RA… Did you say Dutch?? Ours is terminally broken, the one down the road is great; shame we missed out. 🙂

Hello, rico. Busy?

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

RA CR7 got unfairly criticized but when ronaldinho and ibrahimovic did those ‘back’ passes they were called geniuses.i wish we had signed him to be honest and if he can stop being selfish and more of a team player he can be more dangerous than messi.

SD-London
SD-London
15 years ago

I am sorry Kevin , although you have apologised i still can’t help but reply to your first comment.

WHAT was that about?
You are either a Former Chavski fan or you have a Chavski gene somewhere.

The blogger did not personalise the article , the blogger just mainly did a short round up of possible players that we might be Linked to. The blogger went further to mention the only worthy signing is that of Chesney .

You missed all that and decided to post that kind of comment?
Pure twaddle .

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

I am desperate to see diaby back.he is our best player against park the bus opponents since he can take out 3 players in one dribble opening up space for the likes of cesc.diaby is very crucial and i can’t believe how underrated he is.am not going to start that debate again but am glad the person that matters,Aw,values him as highly as i and few Arsenal fans do.

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

rico, Bendy should just shut the fudge up. Really. I do like him, he’s been working hard for sure, but how does this attitude help our team?

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

SD-L, lets hope he has seen the errors of his ways

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

Yeah ricodinho, KTR7 broke that news I think….

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

Roger that, Cap’n! 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

At least the human microphone isn’t playing this weekend.Sunday is my birthday and all i want is 3 points.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Aw thinks Almunia can regain the no.1 spot.he may rejoin training on Monday.Verminator’s mystery condition is yet to be solved…how about a consult with Dr.House?

agirlagunner
agirlagunner
15 years ago

KT, human microphone, lol.

Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

I assume that Wenger feels there’s a different intent between Holloway and McCarthy, not to mention the opposition and the timing of the decision.
Plus there seems something much more likable about Hollowy, perhaps is the fact he doesn’t have a set-square for a nose??

SD-London
SD-London
15 years ago

Bendtner is an idiot he should know that Wenger doesn’t like to be dictated to.

Or maybe he is smart, he knows Wenger and knew what to do to make him sell him.

Mmm Birmingham might be interested 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Rico im still very young.im 2. Feel free to guess the rest of it.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Aw has said he’ll speak with Van Marjwick on the possibility of rvp10 getting 45 minutes in that friendly to improve his fitness.

SD-London
SD-London
15 years ago

I think FA would be so embarrassed right now.

Holloway is a top dog and a good coach for that matter.

Watch this space, Wenger will loan him one or two of our boys.

Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

Fair point but still believe Wenger wouldn’t have been so accepting in we were in April.
As for Bendtner, who is his agent and what has he been telling him? I’m sure his posterior is full of smoke but even he must know that he’s setting himself up for a fall?

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Lampard is out for 3 more weeks…Guillem Balague should give the cesc to barça saga a rest.

T-buzz
T-buzz
15 years ago

Well, time to head off.

Have a great weekend and hope its 3points in the bag on Sunday, dont really care how we get it to be honest.
Come on The Arsenal!!

Adios people and God bless!
🙂 😉 😆

SD-London
SD-London
15 years ago

you always have the feeling that Blackpool will always score.

Sam Alladyce should learn from him, Blackburn is so booooring .

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Have a good one T-buzz.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Despite having big lumps in the squad city are yet to score a headed goal in the PL.

SD-London
SD-London
15 years ago

City, The Mancshity

SD-London
SD-London
15 years ago

Thank God we didn’t buy Yaya, you wonder why Barca wanted to get rid of him

SD-London
SD-London
15 years ago

Another name for city : Manc Stupids.

Then the are paying him in the excess of 250k , i dont understand that logic.
I will love to be his friend though 🙂 250k per week ?

SD-London
SD-London
15 years ago

bye, 3 points to us 🙂

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico,

Did you manage to cancel your ATVO subscription?

They are messing me around demanding a reference number. What reference number I ask? Where can I get findit?

So far I have received two computer generated responses telling me it was my responsibility!

B*stards! 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Rico leave that to me…thats why i write euro articles for you.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Silly me Rico, I paid by C/Card, and that makes things a bit more difficult if they don’t play ball.

I might have to ask WATH to pop around and sort them out. 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

As much as we hate scholes he is a phenomenal passer of the ball.582/619 successful passes (94%) success rate is mindblowing considering he is 36 years old.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

KT,

You gave us a 2 to guess your age. Well I think you are the youngest engineer/statistician genius the world has known, so I say 12. 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

I’ll let you guess my age all you want but am not going to spill the beans.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Darn it. 🙂

You know what will happen, KT, each of us will guess from 1 to 9, I see Rico has already said 20).

So, qualified engineer, uni, experienced, 27?

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Spoil sport! 🙂

I’m only jealous because I will never see my twenties again! 🙄

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico,

I put away my spreadsheets a couple of hours ago and am baking bread.

As you are a cook of some renown, my dough is still a bit too moist after 10 mins of kneading. Can I still add more flour at that stage?

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Xavi and scholes are very similar players.xavi attempted 669 passes at the WC which is exceptional.in WC 2002 lucio went the entire tournament without even conceding a foul.Rio ferdinand has also gone a whole season without even getting a yellow.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Rico not this season.im not sure but i think it was in 06/07 when he was a mainstay in their defense.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

RA is obviously a bachelor.he is an accountant who is very busy…you are right rico he wouldn’t tell us his age.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

KT, I wonder how that happens. Alan Smith went thru all his career and got only 1 yellow, which was just not justified.

Rico, yes, I have not quite got the hang of it, but I went ahead and added the extra flour because it could not wait. Fingers crossed, as well as my eyes! 🙂

You have just had an honourable mention, (on, schh you know where) with other excellent gooner women. Such fame! 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Injuries have wrecked rio’s career but he is usually a very disciplined defender.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

KT, I will if you will, but I would have to charge you, (I am an acountant).

My girlfiends litter my past. They all put up with me and my travelling for a limited time! Just as well really! 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Rico i’ve told you several times that am as hopeful in the kitchen as Taibi is at goalkeeping so listening to you and RA discuss dishes makes me want to try and learn but am too lazy to actually do it.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

KT

I only started a short while ago. I really like doing the basic things like breadmaking, but I often get it wrong, but it’s fun! 🙂

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Women lie about their ages but the wrinkles will always give them away…rico you once gave us a clue of your age so don’t worry…i won’t let the vultures know it.

Red Arse
Red Arse
15 years ago

Rico, I will wish you and KT g’nite as we are the only one’s left, again. 🙂

Tomorrow.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

I once watched footy with a lady who kept on commenting about denilson’s cute face,fab4’s looks …it was annoying! since then she stays in the kitchen as i watch the game peacefully.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

True rico.

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Sign him up Arsene!

K-TR7
K-TR7
15 years ago

Rico i’ll have to call it a day.have a good night.