No Gotze! Shock international call up & Should we sell Park? {Poll}

Another day of not so much news in the world of Arsenal FC but as allezkev the other day, that’s good news in some respects, keeps the Media/Press witch-hunt away eh!

According to The Metro, the representative of Mario Gotze has totally ruled out any move away from Dortmund for his player, he will be remaining in Germany for at least one more year. That will be that then!

One of our youngsters has had a shock call up for his country, Nigel Neita has been drafted into the Jamaica senior squad for their friendly with Costa Rica next Wednesday. Bit of a shock really as he’s not scored for us since December 2010.

Still, he obviously deserves a chance in the eyes of the Jamaican management but he’s only 18 years old, is it right for him to be thrown in so deep so early, without even having featured for our first team?

Talking of not featuring for our first team!

Yesterday the news broke about our shirt selling striker, you know the guy, the one who scores for his country and our reserves but hasn’t really been given the chance in the first team.

Should he stay or should he go?

Well, it looks as if Park Chu-Young could be staying a while longer than we all thought as his compulsory military service in South Korea can be delayed for 10 years.

The South Korea’s Military Manpower Administration announced yesterday that his 10-year residency visa from Monaco means he can put off his service until 2022.

So then, is this good news or bad for Arsenal?

My own thought is that it’s good, IF we sign another striker and sell Chamakh & Bendtner!

As written earlier, he can score goals and isn’t afraid to shoot on sight as shown in the reserve game earlier this week. He offers us something different and I for one would rather see him on the bench than either of the other two mentioned earlier.

We have all believed that he was a signing to sell shirts and other AFC merchandise and yes that maybe us being cynical but when our club pay a tidy sum for a player who seldom gets a chance to play, what else are we supposed to believe?

I am not sure what the precise transfer fee was for Park but reports suggest is was £3.4 Million, which is cheap for an international striker, no doubt that was because of his ‘forced’ Military Service which was then due to take place either this year or next.

However, did Arsene Wenger know, or at least suspect that his due date for the Military could be delayed by ten years?

Personally, I wouldn’t bet against it, Arsene Wenger is a very clever man, a shrewd man, some would even say a ‘tight’ man when it comes to spending money and now that all this has materialised, we could see a bit more of the Korean.

I also wouldn’t bet against Arsene having signed him on a five-year contract when he joined. 😉

We lack a poacher up front, a player that if/when the ball arrives at his feet he is ruthless and has the ability to bury the ball in the back of the net without fuss.

Could Park Chu-Young be that player? It certainly isn’t ever going to be Chamakh or Bendtner is it?

Anderlecht, Monaco and Fulham are all reported to be interested in him, so would you still rather he was sold this summer and let the likes of Joel Campbell and Benik Afobe get their chance?

That’s it for today, a grey old rainy day here in the UK…..

102 thoughts on “No Gotze! Shock international call up & Should we sell Park? {Poll}

  1. Potter says:

    The system we are using at the moment doesn’t accommodate Park and it’s probably too late to change it this season if we want continuity. He has been a little unlucky that RVP has remained fit all year ( Praise be the Lord ).and I think would have edged his way into playing time at Chamakh’s expense had he not.
    Next season however there could be changes, and with Campbell coming into the mix he may well be bedded in to the team in the pre-season matches in the far east .

  2. Mint says:

    I wouldn’t put it past Arsene to know about the 10 visa….. I can’t see Arsenal signing a player knowing he has to go into the military in 18months even if it is just for shirts unless its messi or Ronaldo.. But is he an Arsenal player ?. I’m not sure, maybe with a few games under his belt we’d get to find out but that’s not going to happen is it

  3. Scott From Oz says:

    Evening all….well,Potter,anyway.
    A wonderful day here in Oz…..buckted down rain all day.
    Still,was lucky enough to watch two games today.
    One game was a display of football at its purest,whilst the other was a scrap.
    Just arrived home from watching our local A League side,the Mariners,win 1-0 to maintain top position with one game to go.
    Earlier,my little champions,Kanwal Rovers U/6’s had an 18-2(a lucky rebound,and a penalty) victory…..not bad for a fifteen minute each way game.
    It was the boys first game back and it showed they’d lost nothing after 6 months off,and have actually improved.
    My little fella potted 11,and laid on the final pass for another 3.
    Proud day….yes,but was much more proud of the three he set up than those he scored.
    Happy St Patricks day to all and sundry.
    Ps…..there is absolutely NO TRUTH to the rumours that Sean Eric Jackson was in London yesterday for a medical.
    He was actually in Manchester!!!!!!
    Joking,of course……I’d disown him if that ever happened!!!!!!
    Ps.ps….did you guess which game the scrap was lol?????

  4. Jekyll says:

    What’s the point of holding on to him? Wenger never plays him and never will, if he won’t even bring him off the bench more than once or twice all season. And if he’s on £40k a week as reported, he’ll have to be selling an awful lot of shirts to pay for himself to sit on the bench. Problem is, if he’s on that much we won’t be able to sell him, like so many in our squad.

  5. Scott From Oz says:

    Hang on,wasn’t Ryo shirt selling excercise too?
    Plenty thought so at the time.
    It was well documented early on he was struggling badly to settle in at London.
    The problem is we so desperately need every point lately,we can’t afford to take RVP off.
    Hopefully,Wenger has finally given up on Chamakh now,and Park can get his chance.
    There’s no doubt the guy can play,Wenger obviously agreed enough to buy him,so let’s see him.

  6. W.A.T.H says:

    Evening Scott, Don’t think Ryo was ever a shirt selling exercise, right from the off you could see the lad had talent. I think Park has been given a pretty rough ride actually, def a marketing ploy but also every time the fella plays he seems to score and def knows where the goal is yet doesnt get a chance in our first team yet Chamakh does….? strange…!

    A proud dad with your lads game today then… Nice one..!

  7. Scott From Oz says:

    Wath,I know Wenger saw plenty in Ryo, but plenty of fans were sceptical.
    Plenty also thought that way about Henry.
    As for my young bloke,he’s about ten times more talented than I ever was……must come from his mum!!!!!

  8. Scott From Oz says:

    I always liked Chamakh,and thought he always at least put in when playing,but even I’d have given up on him long before Wenger.
    Not sure what the story is there.

  9. W.A.T.H says:

    I think that Vegas thing has something to do with it re Chamakh… I never ever saw him as a goalscorer, saw him plenty of times while in france and just thought he was a decent target man but not what we needed when we hardly put balls into the box from crosses thats not how we play… Bendtner never got service so what would be different with Chamakh…? just my thoughts but we really need to be getting rid of him thats for sure. Park just seems to know where the goal is and if your scoring at international level for fun your not a mug are you..?

    We’ll see what happens in the summer though…! Your Mrs plays footie…. impressive… 😉

  10. mystic says:

    It is worth bearing in mind that Arsene nicked Park from right under the noses of Lille as they had lined him up as a potential replacement for Hazard – they obviouslt saw something in the player that Arsenal have yet to exploit.

  11. Scott From Oz says:

    Agree re;Chamakh…best he goes.
    Boss lady played state league netball,so was pretty a handy athlete.

  12. W.A.T.H says:

    Enjoy JM, Maybe we nicked him from under Lille’s noses Mystic to offer him as part of a deal for Hazard this summer…?

    Well lets hope your nipper don’t start playing netball mate 😀

  13. W.A.T.H says:

    Sport is good for kids Scott, the more they play the better it is for them I say…. you got the climate for him to be playing footie and all sorts all year round…! It’s gonna be a piss boring weekend with no Arsenal til wednesday….!

  14. Scott From Oz says:

    Wath,I have to hold him back.
    He would have me kicking a ball with him ten hours a day.
    He loves sports in general,but football and Arsenal stand out for him.
    Imagine in ten years time looking back and remembering this conversation after he’s Australias first Gunners player.
    Aaaggghhhh,I can dream!

  15. W.A.T.H says:

    Afternoon boss…. Sorry Scott poxy pc crashed so wasn’t ignoring you mate…!
    Arsenal’s first Aussie player…. stranger things have happened just make sure he’s kicking that ball around with both feet…..!

  16. W.A.T.H says:

    Adam, hear what your saying but short term lets be honest Park has not had a chance what so ever, could be an option for the bench at least…?!?!

  17. rico says:

    I’d keep Park, let him have a chance I say, he could be important between now and the end of the season, stranger things have happened….

    I know wath – yawn 😉

  18. allezkev says:

    Afternoon Gooners.
    Afternoon Rico. Check your in-box.
    Good post btw, considering the lack of news!

    I would keep Park, at least for another year.
    With the spectre of the South Korean Military postponed for 10 years, what have we got to lose.
    My understanding, was that Arsenal gave him a 4 year contract anyway.
    Arsene Knows prehaps???

  19. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Reports the ‘Daily Mail’ that Daniel Levy, chairman of Tottenham, is willing to pay whatever it takes to hire Jose Mourinho, that if you can not catch the output of Harry Redknapp, named as leading candidate to succeed Fabio Capello as coach of England
    Italy 10 Scotland 6

  20. Micko says:

    La Fheile Padraig Sona Duit gooners, drink some guinness its good for you.
    Always knew Nigel had it in him to go all the way with Jamaica !
    So it’s no Gotze today, it will be no Vertonghen next week.
    Not being in the fa cup stinks big time, there’s just one thing for it…………..

  21. alanbstardmp says:

    Scott;
    John Kosmina was Arsenal’s first, and only Australian player.

    There should be a couple more, like Kennedy. 6’7 of him

  22. allezkev says:

    WTF happened.
    Just seen it after the rugby finished.
    That’s awfull news….
    BBC say it’s life or death, so he is still critical….

  23. allezkev says:

    Fabrice Muamba collapses on pitch during FA Cup match
    Tottenham’s FA Cup game against Bolton Wanderers has been abandoned after Trotters midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed and stopped breathing.

    Medics spent 10 minutes trying to resuscitate the 23-year-old on the field before the players were taken off by referee Howard Webb.

    BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter Ian Dennis says the English midfielder is fighting for his life.

    The score was 1-1 when he collapsed with no players close-by on 41 minutes.

    Medical staff gave Muamba mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and tried to revive him with a defibrillator. In total six medics were treating the player.

    Both sets of supporters chanted Muamba’s name as he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. ESPN reported that he was not breathing as he was taken down the tunnel.

    The former Arsenal midfielder has been taken to hospital.

    Referee Webb called the visibly shaken players off the field after consulting with managers Owen Coyle and Harry Redknapp.

    Minutes later the match was abandoned.

    Soon after the incident, messages of support flooded in for the former Arsenal man.

    England international Jack Wilshere, who played with Muamba at Bolton, tweeted: “Hope Muamba is okay. Thoughts with him.”

    Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte, who played in the Arsenal youth team with Muamba, said: “I seriously hope my best friend in football is OK. Stay strong bro [sic] please please stay strong. God is with you remember that.”

    Muamba joined Wanderers from Birmingham City in 2008 and has made 130 league appearances for the club

  24. rico says:

    Hi AK, he collapsed, stopped breathing and rushed to hospital, no-one anyone near him but reports say he was still being give CPR as he left the pitch…

    awful, poor por lad….

  25. allezkev says:

    Rico, they’re talking in the past tense about him on the radio!!!
    You know, ‘he WAS this and he WAS that’…
    That’s not good boss….

  26. allezkev says:

    Yes, it sounds like a heart problem Rico.

    They were using a defribulator[spelling ?] on him.
    You know, that electric shock treatment to restart the heart.
    Not good.

  27. allezkev says:

    BBC Radio 5 live chief football reporter Ian Dennis at White Hart Lane: “When the medical staff arrived, Fabrice Muamba’s face was on the turf. They quickly turned him over and within seconds were putting white pads and defibrillator on him. It was quite clear to everyone that he was fighting for his life. If he does pull through it will be down to the quick actions of the medics.”

  28. Scott From Oz says:

    Any word on Muamba?
    Just woke up this,and its just terrible,terrible news for any player from any club.

  29. rico says:

    My last was bollox, so deleted…

    My heart and prayers go out to him, big time, hopefully by now he is stable and he’ll pull through – but yes, credit where it’s due but all football clubs do the same, the enemy go out the window when something like this happens…

    Lewin saved JT’s life, any delay and JT would have been gone….

  30. allezkev says:

    Defibrillation is a common treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Defibrillation consists of delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart with a device called a defibrillator. This depolarizes a critical mass of the heart muscle, terminates the arrhythmia, and allows normal sinus rhythm to be reestablished by the body’s natural pacemaker, in the sinoatrial node of the heart. Defibrillators can be external, transvenous, or implanted, depending on the type of device used or needed. Some external units, known as automated external defibrillators (AEDs), automate the diagnosis of treatable rhythms, meaning that lay responders or bystanders are able to use them successfully with little, or in some cases no training at all.

  31. rico says:

    No update yet Scott, too right too, doens’t matter who any player plays for, this is just dreadful for anyone, let alone a 23 year old healthy guy…….

  32. Scott From Oz says:

    A lot of the arguments and discussions we all have seem very,very petty atm.
    Everything is crossed that he pulls through and gets back to full health.
    Football really is just a game.

  33. Scott From Oz says:

    He has a young son,and recently was engaged.
    I’m sure everyone is praying dad comes home.

  34. devilgunner says:

    No usual greeting for me today.

    I am still in shock and very down.

    As Sir AK can vouch for, Fabrice Muamba has been one of my favourite AFC youngsters who I hoped would one day play for the team. He did not, and now may never do so again. A great pity because I always wished he would come back.

    Hope you are all ok.

    I had quite a long day today. A bit tired and soon off to sleep.

  35. devilgunner says:

    I was sad when he left. I think he would have made a great defensive midfielder and had a great presence about him. And he would have loved AFC more then Flamoney, Grease Slime Spaniard, and Diarrohea.

    Sky has just said he is stable. Hope he pulls through. But we will never see him on the pitch again.

  36. allezkev says:

    Arsenal captain Robin van Persie “I’m so sad about what happened to Fabrice Muamba today. Played with him for a couple of years. What a great guy. Always a smile on his face. Please Fabrice bring that smile back. My thoughts are with you and your lovely family!”

  37. devilgunner says:

    Arsenal captain Robin van Persie “I’m so sad about what happened to Fabrice Muamba today. Played with him for a couple of years. What a great guy. Always a smile on his face. Please Fabrice bring that smile back. My thoughts are with you and your lovely family!”

  38. Adam says:

    Hi Rico. Amen to that. Just turned on the telly after dinner and heard the news. Shocking really but happy to hear that he is in a stable condition. Hope he pulls through. Things like this always put life and football into perspective though.

  39. rico says:

    devil, not just saying it, but i have always felt the same, he’s a great player for bolton, and one who iv’e always believed we let slip though the net….

    English and a true Gooner….

    We won’t see him play again but i’m just glad he’s stable and hopefully will make a full recovery….

    Football – there will always be a role for him somewhere in time….

  40. Scott From Oz says:

    Guys,it does show us one thing.
    We all might say stupid things about other clubs and their players,but at the end if the day,we really do understand its a game.
    Just jumped on a Bolton fans forum and there’s more messages from supporters of other clubs than Boltons own.
    Some very heartfelt posts too,but really lovely to see.
    Again,I have everything crossed he recovers 100%.
    I am off now,but hopefully I’m greeted with great news later.
    Evening all,stay positive for the lad.

  41. rico says:

    I’m off too guys, just hope the big guy has a settled night and all get’s so much better from here on in….

    Stay safe all, nighty night……

  42. devilgunner says:

    Tbh, 10 minutes without breathing means only one thing. That although he might pull through and continue to live, from now on he will have a very long road to recover. He might not recover 100% and may even suffer amnesia and also body control. In other words he may have cerebral palsy, which means that certain body functions will not be 100% anymore.

    Good night my friends.

    Get well soon Fabrice. You will always be remembered by us Gooners

  43. Joaquim Moreira says:

    I was watching the game on TV when it happened. Everyone in the stadium realized the gravity of what happened.
    A few years ago, many saw live on TV, what happened to Feher (benfica player) in Guimarães. After being warned by the referee, smiled at the TV camera, took two steps and fell.
    A few years ago, a doctor, who played basketball at FC Porto, Paulo Pinto, the same happened. Years ago, a great player of Porto, the team captain, the International Peacock, died of sameM mode.
    From 4 years onwards, it began to be required in sports halls, a defibrillator….
    Like a few years ago, Benfica striker Féher after an ad

  44. alanbstardmp says:

    poor lad is still critical according to Talksport. It’s terrible to hear this sort of thing about anybody. One wonders why a fit footballer would suffer from this. Not the first time

  45. W.A.T.H says:

    ABMP………… it can happen to anyone mate, a fit footballer or sportsman isn’t immune to what the rest of us can have go wrong….! Highlights just how fragile life really is….! Lets hope he pulls through and that the work from all the medics on the pitch pays off…!

    Night all….! Have a good day you Aussies….. 😉

  46. Micko says:

    Just in from a fantastic day out to here the sobering news, Muamba is in God’s hands tonight.
    Nobody knows what’s waiting for them around the corner.

  47. Scott From Oz says:

    I just saw the footage immediately after he collapsed.
    To see him face down,convulsing was just distressing.
    To see players distraught was sobering.
    To hear the crowd chanting his name was devastating,and brought tears to the eyes.
    To read that some arseholes on FB and Twitter are making jokes about it belies belief.
    What is wrong with people?

  48. Merlin96 says:

    There are all kinds of humankind Scott.
    SUffice to say..RESPECT to all those SPurs fans who cried, and who prayed, and hwo chanted “Fabirce Muamba” all aorund the ground.

  49. Scott From Oz says:

    Merlin,
    I have never,ever been so upset watching a sporting event.
    Just shed a tear again.
    My wife asked why…..he’s an athlete,an ex Gunner,but most importantly, a man with a family.
    I may go hard in debates and defending the mighty Arsenal,but nothing comes close to family.
    Any news guys…..I can’t get anything.

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