Daily Bits and Bobs

Podolski/Draxler swap on? Just who was Arsene Wenger watching a couple of days ago?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Arsene Wenger is reported to have been present at the under 21 match against Liverpool a couple of nights ago.

Here is the squad for that match:

Macey, Jenkinson, Yennaris, Frimpong, Ajayi, Hayden (Goalscorer) Eisfeld, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Afobe (Goal scorer) Zelalem, Toral

On the bench was:

Iliev, O’Connor, Olsson (62 mins for OC) Ormonde-Ottewill and Maitland-Niles (74 mins for Eisfeld)

So who was Arsene Wenger keeping an eye on?

Carl Jenkinson, in case Bacary Sagna really is looking for a way out?

Benik Afobe, and if he liked what he watched he knows he can leave the AFC cheque book safely under lock and key?

One of the two central defenders, after all Napoli are still hoping to take Thomas Vermaelen from us…

Emmanuel Frimpong who is out of contract in the summer? He reportedly had a good game, good enough to tempt the club to offer him a new contract?

Of course he may just have been checking over them all to see if any of those on the fringe are really ready to play a part in what is a tough few months ahead. Or maybe he just wanted to see who is ready to face Coventry City. I hope it’s the latter.

We sit top of the league and head into a really difficult couple of months and in my opinion, this is not the time to be thinking about younger and inexperienced players.

What we need to be doing now is adding a couple of experienced players, ones who know what it’s like to battle through the tough times and come out as winners.

That might mean bringing in a couple on loan as January is always a tough month to sign players, especially in a World Cup year but loans would be fine wouldn’t they?

I’m sure players would look at our situation and know they have a good chance to win something in just a few months time.

Then, in the summer, sort through the under 21′s and any who look like they have what it takes stay, the others, well time to move them on……

Added to that of course, sign up who we need to start the new campaign strong and sign them early so they all get a pre-season together….

But right now Arsene Wenger needs to think about right now.

This league is ours to win, if the club sign who we need….

The Sun suggest that we have made a Podolski/Cash bid for Julian Draxler. This will be interesting if true and would explain why Podolski hasn’t played much since his return but, since when has a transfer story printed in The Sun had an element of truth to it?

We need to be adding to who we have, not letting a player with Podolski’s experience go….

That’s your lot for another day….

rico

0 thoughts on “Podolski/Draxler swap on? Just who was Arsene Wenger watching a couple of days ago?”

  2. Scott from Oz says:

    “A mate heard a cat screeching and screaming outside his place the other day.
    He goes out to see 4 Utd fans playing football with it….absolutely disgusted.
    He was about to call the RSPCA and police until the cat went 1-0 up.”
    Borrowed from the net 🙂 🙂

  6. Eric koech says:

    Wenger should NOT do a swap deal.Podolski is a good finisher.If he should sign someone,use money not a swap deal.

  9. rico says:

    Arsenal are apparently ready to go head to head with Russian moneybags Zenit for a former Bolton Wanderers player.

    Benfica striker Rodrigo is the man in Wenger’s sights.

    Zenit had reportedly agreed a £25m deal to sign him earlier in the window, but talks have broken down and the Gunners are now in the race.

    Portuguese paper O Jogo suggest that Wenger wants the 22-year-old initially on loan with a view to a summer move.

    Rodrigo has English football experience having featured 17 times on loan for the Trotters back in 2010.

    Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-news-rumours-ex-bolton-3048682#ixzz2r7XHJ7Lc
    Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

  10. Ogban says:

    I don’t believe the swap story. Doesn’t make sense to me. But there, the sale of Gervinho didn’t make sense to me. But it happened. So………fingers crossed for me.

  11. rico says:

    Neither do I Ogban. No doubt this all stems from the photograph which did the rounds which made it look like Podolski was unhappy at OC getting the call off the bench instead of him…

    However, the Gerv sale made sense to me 😉

  12. Babs says:

    I agree also that Wenger should use money for Draxler. And also should sign Ridrigo and/or Sebastian Giovinco and another defender. Afterwards we don’t have a debt anymore.

    What we have now should be kept as we are in so many competitions and it would be good to get a trophy this season.

  13. potter says:

    Gervinho is a player that blows hot and cold, he was hot in France and appears to have started that way in Italy. Unfortunately he found the temperature in London positively Ice Age. I don’t for one moment doubt that he is a capable player , it just didn’t happen here and I doubt that even given time he would have been able to turn things around.

  14. tsgh says:

    I agree Potter,

    Against Juve last night next to the legend Totti he was quite sensational and came up with an instinctive winning goal, but then in the 6 months or so he has been with Roma he has missed 2 ‘sitters’ so…

    Giovinco does not look the player he was 2 or so years ago… I am glad it was just a rumour…

  15. tsgh says:

    I like Draxler as he is a big game player but he has never been a finisher imo… 4 goals and 5 assist in 20 appearances playing on the lhs of a front 3 next to the likes of Boateng, Forfan,Szalai is not prolific enough considering he has only scored 1’s in the Bundesliga…

    He is not great with his back against goal either even though he knows how to set himself sideways to receive the ball…

    I guess he is still young to adapt…

    I can’t see how he can be a false 9 imo… I would rather AW turned Ozil to a false 9 or bought Kruse who will be much much cheaper… Dev will testify.. 😉

    Where is the devil btw? 😉

  17. arse says:

    so we lost walcott one of our best finishers at the club, so the next logical thing to do is to sell our best/2nd best finisher at the club ?

    yup, it sure makes sense.

  18. tsgh says:

    Potter no where exciting but UEFA Executive Committee holds its first meeting of the year at the House of European so I have been informed 😉 right now… 😉

  19. Joseph philipo says:

    The swap for pod vs drax dsn’t make sense. Pod is unpredictable, unstopabble, fast dribbling, good shotter, flexible and awesome unlike Giroud. Wenger must give him a role as CF player so that he can prove how good he is. We love Podolski why Wenger seems he dn’t see his good work even for 20 min in he’s apperance from bench. We want him to play a time like Giroud do.

  20. rico says:

    I agree re Gervinho too Potter which is why selling him made sense.

    I do wonder if AW thinks Podolski is struggling with the PL in a similar way. AW is talking a lot about him too and full of praise, we all know that’s a sure sign he could be off.. 😉

  21. tsgh says:

    journalism and sensationalism – I think it could be quite easy to find out where Aw was heading to by just watching where he dropped off his luggage at the airport checkin point… even for a Club World Business class flyer… imho…

  24. tsgh says:

    Poldi spending all his time with Frimpong does not help his course either 🙂 lol

    He even went to watch Frimps play at u-21… and all the bromance between them and poldi doing Azonto dance and all… 🙂

  25. rico says:

    afc.com have changed the picture of Jonker on the article announcing his appointment, so they do read HH… 😉

  33. rico says:

    Welcome Joseph, i’m not convinced Podolski is right for a lone striker role but we certainly can’t afford to lose him right now….

    Unless AW has some other transfer ideas planned… Which I doubt.

  35. tsgh says:

    Very true Rico but you never know assuming this is our season…

    Aguero could not score last season so any thing can happen..

    Dzeko is less dangerous in the bigger games unlike Negredo imo…

  36. rico says:

    Real Betis starlet Alvaro Vadillo would prefer a move to Arsenal over any other Premier League club, his agent had suggested.

    The 19-year-old has been in red hot form for the La Liga club this season, standing out despite the fact that Betis are sitting rock bottom of the table.

    Sky Sports reported that a number of Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United were interested in signing Vadillo, who has been labelled the next Cristiano Ronaldo due to his style of play.

    In particular, Manchester United and Arsenal have held a long-term interest in the player and were tracking him before a serious knee injury in October 2011 halted his progress.

    Now he’s back fighting fit, Vadillo is again attracting interest from a number of top clubs across several different leagues.

    However, his agent Jose Maria Sanchez de Puerta has revealed that he would prefer to join Arsene Wenger at the Emirates ahead of anyone else.

    Asked whether the player would like a move to Italy, the agent said that his client would be interested but that the Premier League club holds greater appeal.

    Speaking to Calciomercato, de Puerta said: “Yeah, he’d like Italy, being in a championship club with a lot of well-structured clubs, as well as of course he’d like England and Arsenal in particular.”

    AC Milan and Fiorentina are believed to be the Serie A clubs interested.

  39. Wavy says:

    Will Mata matter if he goes to manure? Imo he will make a massive difference to their failing fortunes. Moronyou thinks that Mata is a waste of time, space and skill, he is wrong but the arrogant twat can’t or won’t see the value of the spaniard. The effect of manure acquiring his services would be similar to Ozil arriving at the Ems. The stupid one wouldn’t lend us Ba because it would help the rivals but he will sell to another rival because he thinks his ex-player won’t make any difference. What a fool, selling to a rival. It’s not like Chelski need the money, and its not like they need to balance the books, yet!
    But of all the teams to help the last on the list should be Manure. Let them fester in the mire for as long as possible don’t give them any hope of revival, suffocate them while their down do not breathe new life into the corpse!

  41. tsgh says:

    Wavy, I think Jose has a different and cynical reason to potentially allowing Mata to join Yanited.

    The chavs can only play Yanited in the CL this season as they have already faced each other and even in the CL he will get cup-tied.

    Mauren-yo will use Mata to beat us and $hitty to give chelsea an advantage like he is doing with Lukaku imo… he senses he can win the league if Yanited can beat Shitty and us…

  42. Wavy says:

    Mmm, Ts you may have a point there. It had crossed my mind that in the tradition of the dippers it would not surprise me if manure finished 7th that they would go on and win the CL thus qualifying for the comp next year as holders, at the expense of whoever finishes 4th Everton again perhaps!?

  43. Bergkampforlife says:

    Hi All. on the Man Shity topic. I believe their squad can handle injuries to some players, but if ever something should happen to Yaya Toure, they will be in trouble, beside last night’s game which WHU was pathetic, even Manu would have won 3-0. If you watch games where he never played,they really struggled.

    On the Poldi issue, who ever believes what the Sun reports.

  44. tsgh says:

    the scums and their media cronies can’t mind their own business it seems.

    The Erissen vs Ozil debate is still on going even though it is only between themselves.

    It must be sad for them as they have our reject Adebawhore saving their season in addition to a stand-in manager who has an Arsenal tattoo ..

  46. Micko says:

    rico, your opening up a whole bag of cans, I stopped trying to figure out Arsene years ago.
    Frimpong may well be the next one out the door, tsgh you better get busy building that shrine at the bottom of your bed, chop, chop.

  50. rico says:

    Arsenal have terminated the contract of on-loan winger Anthony Jeffrey by mutual consent, reports talkSPORT.

    The 19-year-old enjoyed a loan spell with League One side Stevenage last season, and more recently was sent to Skrill Conference South outfit Boreham Wood.

    Definitely need a striker now 😉 😉

  54. tsgh says:

    Night Rico…

    Guillem Balague ‏@GuillemBalague 1h
    All agreed. Juan Mata will be a Manchester United player. 45 million euros. All will be announced very soon

  58. Wavy says:

    When you’re down you’re usually out!
    Come on the black cats… Citeh next!
    I love it….I just love it!
    Maureen under my feet!

  61. Wavy says:

    We don’t need him but, why not hi-jack the Mata deal. That’s intent! Grind the noses of the Red Devils into the manure that they wallow in! Cut them off without a high hope in hell of rising from the dead! Kick them when they’re down! Go Arsene …….do it!

  62. potter says:

    Following uo from the easy jet trip

    With the January transfer window in full flow clubs are working hard to try and strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Arsene Wenger has been scouting at the Barcelona game.

    Cristian Tello

    Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was in the stands to watch Barcelona take on Levante on Wednesday night with the Frenchman keeping a close eye on Pedro, Sergi Roberto and Cristian Tello, according to reports in Spain.

  63. Cesc says:

    On poldi,i can’t see ‎​†̥ђƺ swap deal happen.Poldi is our best finisher αη∂ we all clearly Ҡnσw that,whenever is on ‎​†̥ђƺ field(№t playing as a lone striker) Ɣo̶̲̥̅̊u̶̲̥̅̊ get this feelings that a goal is coming.Αη∂ we don’t need to send away any player we need to add.Mata will do manure a great favour but moruyu thinks like a fool but he won’t sell to us.We need someone like hazard or williem I̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ this team to complete this team,a pacey,strong winger with a fast foot.I don’t think ‎​†̥ђƺ shakle 04 kid is that guy bcos he was pretty disappointing against chelshit I̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ both legs.Have anyone see cradiff city wideman playing on ‎​†̥ђƺ right but cutting I̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ with left.That guy will be a revelation i think.

  69. Scott from Oz says:

    Rumour has it there will be a massive comeback next season from Utd….they WILL challenge for the title, though concede Blackpool and Leeds will offer some tough competition.

  72. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning all, Podolski rumours in the papers with a possible swop deal, where did that come from. I thought Poldi was a fans favourite. I know the report says that the club involved has turned the offer down as they want cash, if of course this rumour has any legs at all. Personally i would have thought Gnabry would have been the better swop, as he is younger and an exciting prospect. I would of course prefer to keep both players and just put the money up and buy the player, but i suppose that is not complicated enough.

  75. Adam says:

    Brudder Lee. Yes, MAn Utd’s plight is sad isn’t it? 🙂
    I can’t believe the amount of sympathy being offered up for them by the TV pundits and how everyone feels so sorry for a plank like Davie ‘Botox’ Moyes.

  78. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning Rico, If the reports are right and Wenger and his sidekick have been spotted watching Barca, makes me think that Knoenke he said Yes.

  80. rico says:

    But two sides were playing Sp, I can’t see Barca selling to us, especially not Tello after he scored a hat-trick…

    Do they still owe us money for Cesc and Song I wonder?

  82. Adam says:

    After the game last night Moyes promised the United fans that they would definitely be involved in European competition next year.
    Even if he had to write the song himself.

  85. Adam says:

    Why Mata would want to go to Man U is equally baffling to me. There must be other clubs on the Continent surely?

  86. stevepalmer1 says:

    Personally speaking i feel Moysey is a good Manager, I feel that he knew what he was getting himself into, i believe he was aware that Utd were ready for a rebuild but was prepared to wait six months to see how the players faired. In all honesty injuries have not been kind to him, but buying new players and moving some on, will now go down better with their supporters. I have no doubts that this is just a seasons blip. But we still need to carry on our building, as although we are top, we are not the finished artical yet.

  88. rico says:

    Sp, also, I don’t think the players want to perform for him, his name isn’t big enough for their massive egos….

  90. rico says:

    Thierry Henry is on the Graham Norton show this weekend. He’s said he wants to manage Arsenal once AW steps down…

    Best he hurries up and gets his coaching badges 😉

  93. stevepalmer1 says:

    Lets face it Rico, most Arsenal supporters were ready for a change in manager at the start of the season before we brought Ozil, Now I dont rate Ozil as the shining light, but because were top, supporters are right behind Wenger. And after Moyes has brought a couple his clubs supporters will change as well.

  94. rico says:

    I think most wanted to see a change in Arsene Wenger and signing Ozil went along way to suggesting he may have changed a tad but for me, he failed miserably by not getting the kind of striker who would bring out the best in Ozil.

    No disrespect to Giroud but he’s not the quickest player on the pitch and Ozil’s brain works so fast, he needs a striker who can match him…

  98. Adam says:

    Lee. I have adopted his moisturising regime though not his Botox treatments. 🙂
    Rico. I agree that a top striker with pace and movement would cast Ozil in a new light.

  103. stevepalmer1 says:

    Henry as a manager of Arsenal, i don’t think so, No Managerial experience at all and still no badges.Wouldn’t supprise me at all that Wenger has secured our future Manager already in our new youth team coach. Loads of experience with youngsters a vast knowledge of foreign players and experience of being club managers assistant where else would you look. 3 years on with Arsenal experience and he will fit in fine.

  104. Adam says:

    I have heard that Hawksmoor is good but I will check out Wright Bros too. Hix has a gaff down there too I believe?

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