This morning The Sun carried EXCLUSIVE ‘quotes’ from Victor Wanyama that saw the Southampton player linking himself with a summer move to the Emirates.
Under the title “WENG WANTS ME” [paywalled] the 23-year-old Kenyan reportedly told the paper’s reporter Justin Allen:
“Wenger has been talking about me. He has let it be known he would like to sign me this summer. Arsenal are a great club and I’d love to play Champions League football as I loved being on that stage with Celtic.
“But we’ve had a fantastic season at Saints and I want to stay focused on helping the club qualify for Europe. Then we’ll see where I end up in the summer.”
They looked a little suspicious to say the least…and the player has been quick to kill the story dead.
Taking to Twitter within a couple of hours Wanyama said: “I have to make it clear that I have not said what as [sic] been brought up today am professional and will never say that.
He added: “To cut the story short have never spoken to Wenger.”
It’s not the first time Wanyama has been linked with the Gunners; prior to his move from Celtic to Saint Mary’s his name was regular fodder in the gossip columns.
With only six weeks until the end of the season it’s time to steel yourself for more nonsense talk of warchests and shopping lists and the mutterings of shady agents and desperate chairmen. Shots have been fired.
___
UPDATE – Wanyama has taken to Twitter a second time this afternoon and further muddied the waters. We’re not quite sure what he’s bleating about. Make up your own minds…
“Sorry – was caught off guard this morning about a story that I hadn’t read. To put it straight:
“We all respect Arsenal but right now I’m only focussed on helping Saints to have a strong finish to the season.
“The newspaper article does not say that I have spoken to Wenger or anyone else from Arsenal – and that’s the truth.
“We are doing so well and what other managers think of me as a player is totally out of my control.”
If there’s one image that sums up Arseblog News right now it’s this…
He’s good but better we bring Morgan
wenger out, cos last season he had sealed the deal for Schniderlin, Kadheira, Carvelliho.
LMAO, I love reading Metro for trash. Its like a fantasy novel but if u look for consistency then beware, cos at this moment in time Wenger is on course to replace his squad twice over. Jamie Sanderson and his imagination should work for Marvel comics.
Amalfitano? But why?
Piers? I thought we were trying to get rid of him?
Bring him to the gallows, perhaps.
As a Kenyan and a gooner, I would love it if he joined us. The club also stands to gain economically from increase in revenue from sale of merchandise in Africa as a whole. From a footballing point, I think he has the physical presence but needs to improve as a footballer.
The many Kenyan gooners would love it if we signed him. He is, I suspect, a gooner too
Coq > Schneiderlin > Wanyama
Rosicky > Wilshere.
Don’t know why I wanted to write the later but what the hell
I guess it’s opposite day
Personally don’t want Schneiderlin, nor Wanyama. If we were to go out and get a defensive mid then I hope it’s Veratti. Last season was good, this season even better. In respect to Wilsh, hope he rediscovers his game and can kick on like Ramsey. Rosicky is an amazing talent but he’s on his last legs unfortunately, so Wilsh will get his chance. End of the day it’s clear as it’s ever been that Wenger knows what he’s doing. The financial handcuffs are off and we can see his plan taking shape. Every season the squad is improving and looking… Read more »
Veratti a defensive mid? what?
Well he plays the role with Matuidi technically, like Flam and Arteta do. But think they’re both brilliant in the deep midfield role. Veratti is especially good at turning defence into attack so would be a great addition.
More depth? Any more depth and our depth won’t even get on the bench, even with injuries. What would improve us is one top, top quality player of Sanchez/Ozil calibre, and to replace one or two of the depth players who look out of their depth in the Champions League by depth players who are never out of their depth, so that Wenger can confidently throw them in the deep end when required.
Loll. When our players are fit we don’t look as if we do, but over xmas when we had no ramsey or wilsh, the manager didn’t have any players he felt he could rely on – that included Poldi, Cambell, etc. If we do add quality to our depth, then we could really challenge on all fronts, even with the injuries we always get.
That’s a lot of depth
Sign Messi for depth
Please don’t say “top,top”. Makes me think of ‘Arry Redknapp. The twat.
“Adel Taarabt is a top, top player. Quality signing.”
Too deep, man.
you know who would provide good depth? delph. delph for depth i say.
here i was thinking i was the only one who read depth as delph :p
I still want Lars Bender.
And I still want Kondogbia!
My cat’s name is Zizou.
If it’s in reference to Zinedine, than it is a great cat.
I’d have him as a replacement for flamini and back up for our coq but it won’t happen cos Wenger doesn’t do things this way
Honestly, when was the last time the media predicted one of our signings correctly? They spin all these bullshit about players wanting to join us and Arsene calling them to join us when in reality that is not how we do things at this club. We do things properly at this football club and thats one thing I personally love about Arsenal
Exclusive
Noun
1. A story or article which has been made up before another news outlet has had the chance.
“EXCLUSIVE: Lionel Messi talks to us, THE SUN, about his burning desire to move to Accrington Stanley”
Synonyms: Bullshit, codswallop, nonsense, complete-waste-of-fucking-time
Arteta?
deadline day… hardly the same thing
There was an example a few summers back when we were constantly linked with a tricky, bamboozling young french-speaking winger who played for Lille, and eventually we did sign a tricky, bamboozling young french-speaking winger from Lille. I mean sure it was a different winger but that’s just details.
Did you have to pick out the one example where the player the media were linking us with turned out to be better than the player we actually got? (excluding clearly rubbish links like Cavani et al.)
What about the time in 2012 we were linked with a young attacking midfielder from dortmund, and we signed a young attacking midfielder from dortmund…
Paul, better look behi.. * POW! *
It’s alright folks, our No. 34 just said hi to Paul.
i cant say I am desperate for him.
Only Wenger knows who we’re ‘in for’ this summer. Not the Sun, not the other usual suspects, and not even Wanyama.
If a week is long time in politics, it’s an absolute freaking age during the summer transfer window. All we can do is wait.
Good on Wanyama for being one of the few players to nip such things in the bud, especially given the difference in stature between the two clubs.
What’s more of a mystery to me is why The Sun and The Star keep using “Weng” as a headline shortener. It’s always looked totally spackers.
I guess it’s better than using “Arse”
Works for this blog.
Scene: Arsenal Training Ground, October 1996.
“Nice to meet you boss, My name’s Paul Merson, but you can call me Merse, everyone else does”
“Nice to meet you boss, My name’s Tony Adams, but you can call me Tone, everyone else does”
“Hello Team, my name is Arsene Wenger, and anyone who shortens my name will be put on the transfer list”
Their readership requires words to be monosyllabic.
mono… what? huh?
Isn’t it Liverpool’s job to buy over rated Southampton players? I’m thinking if Arteta gets a new deal which I think he will, Wenger will feel it’s unnecessary to strengthen in this position. In fact, trying to think like Wenger, I’d be surprised if he does much in the summer at all. He will see it as having two competent strikers, plenty of creative midfielders, two holding and defense and goalkeeping all sorted. Even if Theo goes, he may think we managed ok without him and Serge is coming back. Should be interesting.
Would be fun having Wanyama/Coq/Morgan and sell Arteta/Flamini.
But then……..any Kenyan would like that.
If he’s signed, he’ll be the first Kenyan to play for The Arsenal. However, he’s an option we Have in Coq already as Wanyama is more of a tackler than a terrific deep lying passer his Soton is.
Having said that, I’ll still prefer Morgan as he can perfectly play beside Le Coq and form a perfect defensive shield in games we’ll need to be ultra defensive.
To be honest, j have always thought he would cater to our needs more than Morgan…but having said that, haven’t we bought enough Southampton players already?
I’d just like to make it clear that I have not spoken to Mr Wenger either.
I have and he told me I was a cunt…
Let´s win a title first and than think about additions to the squad. We have a quite strong team at the moment and we need world class players to challenge for the league and cl trophies. Arsene will take care, not the media.
I’d love to see Wanyama in our mid(st) with Le Coq,not just because am also Kenyan,but also because Wanyama means “animals” in Swahili and we need a ruthless beast helping out the Coq in midfield!
Costa goes down! Diving? No, he is worshipping beast’s coq!
Referee waves play on.
If he comes he’ll be the new ‘Fivehead’ at the club after Gervinho.
Cannot see us not buying a DM as Arteta has been exposed so often. Suspect back up to Coq will be in the 10-15 million bracket ( no idea who) as talk of the Schneiderlin fee is in the 20-25 mill bracket. A lot when it seems hugely likely Coq will be first choice. Big money will be spent further forward if Walcott goes. Might not be another wide attacker, would not be surprised if Wenger goes for another central striker as I think he prefers Welbeck wide. We will see.
Signings which the media will have you believe that we ve completed. Frei, Scott Dann, Chris Samba, Yann Mvila, Gareth Barry, Serge Aurier, Carlos Vela.
Actually good enough for Arsenal :0
Aurier might have been, but we’re not going to find out for a while now that he’s one of many billionaire’s playthings that they didn’t really need.
If ‘Big Vic’ switches to The Arsenal, no one here in Kenya will have a reason to support any other side. Top it up with the solidity he brings to that center and my life is accomplished!
Prefer Kondogbia. He would be the true heir to the throne left empty by Patrick Vieira.
Am I alone in thinking we could upgrade LB? Monreal has been great this season but he’s 30 or older and Gibbs doesn’t have the tactical nous a lot of the time he plays. Bit injury prone too
Not alone, would buy a quality left back between ages of 19-23, giving Monreal the starting berth next season.
Would then buy Cech because of his dressing room presence and the fact that he is undoubtedly world class. The fact we could get him from Chelshit would make it a lot sweeter and possibly give the players the boost they need to compete for the title.
About transfer, I prefer Wenger’s silent treatment.
It’s season ticket renewal soon. Brace yourselves for the ‘Wenger’s got £80M to spend this summer’ headlines suspiciously arriving in multiple newspapers at the same time
Are you trying to suggest that, after finishing top 4, possibly 2nd?, that season ticket holders will actually be considering throwing their tickets in if Arsenal don’t spend £80m+ in the summer? Seriously…. Have you seen the waiting list?
WanyaCoq axis in midfield?
hahahaha! thats a good one!
Damn, lots of Kenyan.
Forget Wanyama. He isn’t that good. Scheniderlin is highly overated too.
The player we should be focusing on (in absence of a Khedira who will be expensive) is Kongdogbia.
He absolutely had Coquelin in his pocket.
He can add a bit of the height and physicality of Diaby and critically back up (or partner) Coquelin along with Flamini.
Arteta is likely to retire and Diaby should be released.
Kongdogbia from Monaco. That’s who we need.
Are you trying to say… … … … … that Kondomia had our Coq in it’s pocket! It’s been aforementioned but I’ll still reiterate it; having Victor at Arsenal would be great for us Kenyan Gooners. The fact that he has the quality (I’d never have our standards diluted for the sake of obscure notione such as patriotism or nationalism) to line up in our mid just makes me want it all the more. He, as his name suggests, is an absolute beast without compromising on technical and disciplinary quality. He and Coq can close up shop when needed and… Read more »
So he wants to come to arsenal but doesn’t want to upset Saint’s fans at least for the next 3 weeks right?!?
Come on, who couldn’t be so frenzied if The Arsenal wanted them? Get Wanyama, he is strong, he speaks English, he plays in CM, he is freagin Kenyan and (hold up for this one ) his name means animal(s)
As a kenyan and a gooner it would be a dream come true to see him play at the Emirates….he is as stiff as the coq if not more as his quite a physical handful.the prospect of him and the coq partnering in crucial games like cheaslshit and champions league crucial games is tantalising. That being said he does need to improve in lots of aspects to be in contention, good thing is his still young.
2-1 to us this weekend
Ok,counting the hours til match time.An early 8am start here in Frisco.Got the green practice jersey over red .Going to be an EPIC experience. COYG.
We need a dm next season. My dream DM would be javi martinez(despite being injured).
Having watched schneiderlin this season, he’d fit in our team, but not worth 30m. Def better than coq at the moment, would upgrade our team as well, but not worth 30m.
Since we’re listing player we’d like.. I’ll throw Pogba in the mix. Looks a great player and has the bonus of a wacky haircut. Ultimately it’s Profs call though and I trust he’ll be hungrier than any of us, I’m sure we’ll see a couple quality additions this window