During the pre-season, the manager has seen enough of promising 18-year-olds Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong to call off the search for another defensive midfielder.
After retaining the Emirates Cup, Arsène Wenger said to the press that the two talents had persuaded him they have what it takes:
"... At the start of the season I was not convinced that Wilshere and Frimpong could be central midfielders, defensively. There is a little bit more competition than we expected there to be. We were considering even maybe going on the market for a midfielder. We will not do that now."
More quotes at arsenal.com.
Wenger still concedes that he is a central defender short, but he underlines that it's a question of numbers, not quality. (Of course he wouldn't state in public that the ones he already has are backup players...)
Which means there are still a room or two in the squad; perhaps even for a goalkeeper.
Having said throughout the summer that I don't believe a replacement for Almunia and/or Fabianski will be bought, I have to concede that the Mark Schwarzer saga has made me unsure. However, it seems pretty clear to me that a deal for the Australian international is the only option considered.
After internationals like Igor Akinfeev and Federico Marchetti have virtually begged to join Arsenal this summer, a replacement would be easy to find. If there was "only" a replacement needed. Wenger seems to have so much faith in Wojcech Szczesny (and in a lesser extent in Vito Mannone) that a new signing will only be short term.
Having the experienced Schwarzer around as player/coach does make sense in that respect.
Showing posts with label Akinfeev. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Akinfeev. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Sunday, 25 July 2010
Goalie rumours bonanza
This blog is all about the lack of trust we all should have in the media's football coverage during Silly Season. There's a lot of speculating in the miles and miles of reports of Arsenal's dealings or non-dealings in the market. The club is notorious when it comes to keeping transfers under wraps for as long as possible, and then being the very last to confirm that the deal is concluded.
However, sometimes I indulge in interpretation of stories and "news" items. Most of the rumours are just repetitions of other rumours. But sometimes, new threads emerge.
This week, Manuel Almunia has taken centre stage - or, rather, his rumoured replacement. Last season's first choice goalkeeper has yet to appear in a pre-season friendly. At the same time, all media outlets in the UK and then some are claiming that Arsenal are only a round of haggling away before signing Mark Schwarzer from Fulham.
I've mentioned the Schwarzer rumours before, including the bit that he's offered coaching duties in return for letting a younger goalkeeper take the number 1 spot after only a season or two. Anyway, while Fulham look for a manager, no deal can be made, realistic or not.
Another rumour building up is linked with Fulham's leadership predicament. While Ajax' Martin Jol was considered a candidate for the manager's position there, it was suppsoedly because he wanted to pressure his current club into keeping its stars. One of the stars is goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, the Dutch number 1.
More than two months ago, the Daily Mail used one sentence to state that Arsenal had rejected Stekelenburg. However, after the Metro have spent ink on the goalkeeper, today sees the re-emergence of his status as a target in the News of the World.
Another goalkeeper throwing his own hat in the ring is Igor Akinfeev of CSKA Moscow, the international team-mate of Andrei Arshavin's. In the Daily Star Sunday today, the Russian comes up with a good old "come-and-get-me"-plea to Arsenal as well as Manchester United.
A rivalry between the clubs, also including an Arshavin endorsement, was reported in the Daily Mail as early as February, and Akinfeev was linked with Arsenal last summer as well.
In May, however, the website sport.co.uk reported that Wenger had all but sewn up Akinfeev in the January transfer window, only to make a u-turn in order to give Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski more time to get their acts together...
Meanwhile, the rumour mill is grinding for Almunia as well. While Fabianski seems set to stay with Arsenal whatever happens, the Spaniard has been linked with Osasuna and Atletico Madrid in his homeland.
However, sometimes I indulge in interpretation of stories and "news" items. Most of the rumours are just repetitions of other rumours. But sometimes, new threads emerge.
This week, Manuel Almunia has taken centre stage - or, rather, his rumoured replacement. Last season's first choice goalkeeper has yet to appear in a pre-season friendly. At the same time, all media outlets in the UK and then some are claiming that Arsenal are only a round of haggling away before signing Mark Schwarzer from Fulham.
I've mentioned the Schwarzer rumours before, including the bit that he's offered coaching duties in return for letting a younger goalkeeper take the number 1 spot after only a season or two. Anyway, while Fulham look for a manager, no deal can be made, realistic or not.
Another rumour building up is linked with Fulham's leadership predicament. While Ajax' Martin Jol was considered a candidate for the manager's position there, it was suppsoedly because he wanted to pressure his current club into keeping its stars. One of the stars is goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, the Dutch number 1.
More than two months ago, the Daily Mail used one sentence to state that Arsenal had rejected Stekelenburg. However, after the Metro have spent ink on the goalkeeper, today sees the re-emergence of his status as a target in the News of the World.
Another goalkeeper throwing his own hat in the ring is Igor Akinfeev of CSKA Moscow, the international team-mate of Andrei Arshavin's. In the Daily Star Sunday today, the Russian comes up with a good old "come-and-get-me"-plea to Arsenal as well as Manchester United.
A rivalry between the clubs, also including an Arshavin endorsement, was reported in the Daily Mail as early as February, and Akinfeev was linked with Arsenal last summer as well.
In May, however, the website sport.co.uk reported that Wenger had all but sewn up Akinfeev in the January transfer window, only to make a u-turn in order to give Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski more time to get their acts together...
Meanwhile, the rumour mill is grinding for Almunia as well. While Fabianski seems set to stay with Arsenal whatever happens, the Spaniard has been linked with Osasuna and Atletico Madrid in his homeland.
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