Not every cheap signing means a bad signing. For sure we’ve seen a few pretty average players arrive at the club over the years, certainly in defence which is the focus today. Why? Because another cheap signing looks set to sign for us in the next day or so.
Pascal Cygan. 2002-2006.
A £2 million signing back in 2002. Not the worst defender to don an Arsenal kit that’s for sure, but certainly nowhere near being one of the best either. Still, he left with a Premier League medal in his collection.
Philippe Senderos. 2003 – 2010.
Could have been a very good defender had he not stumbled across a certain Didier Drogba. The then Chelsea man appeared to destroy every ounce of confidence Senderos had in him. Horrible to watch and must have been horrid for the Swiss international. An FA Cup medal was it for him during the seven years in north London.
Johan Djourou. 2004-14.
I always thought he was going to be good. He certainly appeared to have all that a central defender needed. Pace, strength, physicality and didn’t seem easily rattled but it seemed that just as he looked as if he was about to become a consistent player for us, something went wrong. Unfortunately for him, he was part of ‘that match’ at Old Trafford, a match which helped no player or his confidence.
Mikael Silvestre. 2008-2010.
This is one signing I never understood. Neither at the time or now. Dreadful.
Sebastian Squillaci. 2010-13.
Not quite as bad as Silvestre but not far off. Fitting that the two players wore the same number on their back. As did Pascal Cygan. I’d never have believed he’d played twenty matches for France unless I saw it written down. Mind you, I did and still struggle to believe it. Nearly as much as Arsenal parting with £4 million to sign him.
The best, or rather worst, has to be the central defender signed with the intention of him being Tony Adams understudy but of course, there was much more to the story behind Igors Stepanovs becoming an Arsenal player than that. Good old Ray Parlour made sure everybody knew about it too when he released his autobiography ‘The Romford Pele.’
Hilarious story but lessons to be learned, although looking back at some of the defenders Arsene Wenger signed after the big Latvian, I’m far from convinced he learned anything.
Sol Campbell apart that is but big Sol was an easy decision to make really. Probably the best central defender signing Arsene Wenger made in his career and he was free.
Per Mertesacker didn’t cost a fortune, Laurent Koscielny didn’t either, nor Thomas Vermaelen – all who had decent careers with us. Kolo Toure was another, for a £200k transfer fee. Sylvinho, a freebie and Eboue for less than £2 million. Sagna was an excellent signing for just over £8 million and who can forget Lauren. Gabriel, Debuchy, Bellerin and Chambers, but by now the cost of English or experienced defender had risen. Chambers being quite expensive considering his relative lack of experience. £18 million according to transfermarket although I seem to recall the figure being less at the time. Holding came to Arsenal for less than £3 million at the same time Mustafi arrived for £37 million. Gulp! Kolasinac was another free signing, a good one in my opinion but I know he’s a bit of a marmite player amongst the fans. A bit like Sokratis. There are more examples but I’m sure you get my drift by now.
Having gone through our defensive signings for the last twenty odd years, there are names listed I don’t even remember us signing let alone playing. In fact many of them never did. But the one thing which stands out is that Mustafi aside, Arsenal have never paid a vast transfer fee for a defender and yet for attacking players it’s been totally the opposite. Recently anyway with Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang and Pepe all costing £50 million or more.
A trend which seems to be the norm throughout the game really. There’s been the odd big money defender bought and sold like Virgil van Dijk, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Lucas Hernandez, Aymeric Laporte, David Luiz (Chelsea) etc but I’m sure if someone could be bothered to research it, the money spent on attacking players in the game would far outweigh that spent on defensive ones. Regardless though, there are some very good defenders across the game, many of whom haven’t cost a third of the amount of those listed above yet they’re preventing goals being scored week after week. That’s because they know what their job is and where they fit into their managers plans for his team. They don’t need to be fancy or flash, they just need to defend.
What they cost is irrelevant. What they do is all that matters. Which is just why a few weeks ago I paid half the price for a Microwave from Aldi than I would have for a similar model sold by a more upmarket retailer.
It’s working very well by the way…
Catch up in the comments guys…
Morning Rico, thanks for a mega post and so glad to hear that the microwave is proving to be such a good buy. 🙂
Yeah, Arsene did have a blind spot when it came to centre halves, he signed some really good full backs but most of his worst transfer decisions strangely revolved around the position he himself played as a young man?
Guendouzi cost what, £7m?
Now he may not be everyone’s favourite midfielder for any number of reasons but I reckon we could get in excess of £50m if we put him up for sale. That’s being smart in the market and Arsenal, due to our ownership, have to be smart in the market.
Good morning Rico, you missed one, Ian Ure, a great lump of a player ever ready with a scything tackle or a blatant body check. I remember we played a “friendly” against (I think) Glasgow Rangers. Ian took out one of the Rangers players and a Scotsman standing near me came out with a foul mouthed rant along the lines of “ye dirty f*****g Sassenach b*****d”. I took great delight in pointing out that he was Scottish not a Sassenach. The reply came back “he’s still a dirty f*****g b*****d”.
Great banter on the terraces in those days. 😉
Morning Kev, all.
You should see it Kev… 😂
Just hope the club don’t see Martinelli as being smart in the market but Guendouzi, couldn’t agree more. It’d be no different to Anelka all those years ago albeit he’s one we’d have kept had it not been for his brother.
Morning Cicero, Ure was before my time. 😆
Morning Rico, Kev and all.
Buying duff centre halves wasn’t old mother Wenger’s sole domain, have a look back to some of the others!
In no particular order: Mel Charles, Terry Neill, Ian Ure, Tommy Caron, Chris Whyte, etc etc. And offset them with one or two decent ones; Adams, Campbell, BFG,( despite having the turning circle of the Queen Mary!), O’Leary, plus a few others.
If this new guy is a player, then we’ll have found a nugget, but being Arsenal I’m not going to hold out too much hope. Well just have to wait and see……..if they actually sign the big Mari. (It’s not looking too good, given my previous allusion to the BFG!)
Let’s hope that our new head coach has better judgement than some of his predecessors.
Tommy Caton
Morning Wavy, yeah Chris Whyte made an interesting centre forward though… 😉
What about Willie Young?
For my sins I actually liked him, limitations and all.
I remember a rocket of an overhead kick he took at Wrexham back in 1978, the ball flew in like an Exocet. He always stepped up a couple of levels when we played the Spuds, 5-0 at the Lane and all that jazz…
Yeah Rico, I do like me microwaves, it’s sounds a really great piece of kit… 😁
Morning Wavy. I read an article which claimed Man City wanted to buy him back which I’m not sure if true, or if it is, it’s much to be pleased about, not when their defence has been a bit of a muddle this season…
😂 Kev, it grills too.
Morning Rico. I too have a cheap but dependable microwave. Maybe Arteta could place them in central defence as I’m sure they’d do a much better job than Mustafi & Luiz. Ping!!!
Gus Caesar ……..Kwaliteeee !
😂 Kev, it grills too. rotisserie ?
Good thing is: this new guy is coming on loan with option to buy at season end. Six odd months should be long enough time to assess and decide if he’s up to mark.
Just had a glance at ‘a list of past players’ . To be fair I didn’t find many who fell into the devastatingly poor category that haven’t already been mentioned. For the sake of amusement, mine, here is a none too definitive list, since 1960 ( living memory.):
Block let, Hill, Mancini, and who can forget Wembley 1978? Willie Young ( I was there that day, behind the goal and I still cant believe he did what he did.)
However, in contrast the following were a class apart imo:
Bould, Kozza, McLintock.
Feel free to add your own favourite loser or winner.
Morning all.
Was Arteta at City when Mari was kind of there :)!
Done it again, Blockley
It grills as well Rico 😳
Wow, I’m super impressed…. 😄
Pat Howard?
Now now Potter, me being a veggie and all that. Lol
Agree Corporate, a sensible deal I reckon.
Not tried it mind you Kev.
Bischoff is another cracking signing.
He was Scott.
Now now Potter, me being a veggie and all that. Lol
You should try roti sweetcorn , with just a hint of oregano or garlic butter.
I remember we played a “friendly” against (I think) Glasgow Rangers. Ian took out one of the Rangers players and a Scotsman standing near me came out with a foul mouthed rant along the lines of “ye dirty f*****g Sassenach b*****d”. I took great delight in pointing out that he was Scottish not a Sassenach. The reply came back “he’s still a dirty f*****g b*****d”.
Was that the night of the whisky bottles on the North Bank ?
Was at Wembley with my Mum ( dad worked there ) when England beat Scotland 7 – 2 , most of the Jocks were drunk and all had whisky bottles . Everytime England scored this guy went ballistic and then turned and apologised to my mother for the foul language, on the way home she told my Dad that she didn’t understand a word of it but knew what he meant.
Great post rico, avoided looking until caught up with the cricket in case any updates! Great performance by England after Anderson, Leach and Burns returned home with injury or illness.
Garlic butter would be my choice Potter.
Thanks Andrew, excellent from England. Tomorrow should be an interesting battle.
Just heard that the guy who ran A Cultured Left Foot blog, his name was Stuart but everyone knew him as Yogis Warrior, has passed.
Very sad news for one of the stalwarts of the Arsenal blogosphere.
Oh no, that’s such terribly sad news Kev… RIP Yogi…. 😢
Sad news about YW, RIP.
Potter, throughout the match there was an almost continual sound of glass breaking and there were a lot drunken Scots littering the North Bank. We always stood on the corner to the right of the North Bank about half way down the terrace.
Behind the goal on the North Bank slightly towards Avenell Road, also, half way down!
Happy days
RIP Yogi and Kobe Bryant.
What a waste
@wavy
Are you the Wavy I use to have many a discussions with on ACLF? If so, I truly share your pain at the lost of somebody who I never met in person but ABSOLUTELY considered a friend and that friendship is extended to you as well. My heart hurts for not only Kobe with whom I grew up watching as a 33 yr old living in the States playing basketball but a Gooner who shared many a years following, reading and posting on ACLF for everything from Arsenal to life as a whole with my love for soccer and Arsenal.
Truly a sad day that will never be forgotten!
New post up now.
Sorry you were stuck in moderation overnight C.