Arsene Wenger says that the club will be looking to spend money in the January transfer window, but as ever qualified with the need to find someone of the required quality.
With Francis Coquelin injured until the end of February, and Mikel Arteta struggling to maintain any consistent fitness, there’s room for a purchase in the midfield area.
Having admitted he’s a man who likes a bargain (we bet he has a TV in each room to watch football on), he says that the transfer market is something they have their eye on when it opens in a little over 5 weeks time.
“We are in a position where we want to do something,” he said today. “If I find the right quality, I will do it.”
It is a little more difficult in January as we know. It means unearthing a player or generally buying from another team that is not in the Champions League, but there is a history of Arsenal signing players in the January window.
Jose Antonio Reyes became the record signing in January 2004; Emmanuel Adebayor, Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby signed in 2006; Andrei Arshavin in 2009; Nacho Monreal in 2013; Kim Kallstrom came on loan in 2014; while Gabriel and youngster Krystian Bielik both arrived in January of this year.
There were also loan returns for Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell, while youngsters like Ryo Miyaichi and Thomas Eisfeld were also brought in during January windows.
It’s been a bit hit and miss, in fairness, let’s hope we knock one out of the park this time around.
Hurray!
…. already ordered my Pogba shirt.
…………………………………………………………… *
Order some white duct tape as well, that way you’re covered if we sign Drogba instead, which frankly, is just as likely.
I like you Swish, and your attitude. Pretty similar to my own as it happens…Just thought I’d mention it… in a fleeting kinda way..
I can’t find my keys…has anyone seen my keys?
Looking his exact use of words though, it appears that we are fairly close to signing someone.
Fingers crossed.
Please explain to me how you reached that conclusion from this sentence?
“We are in a position where we want to do something,” he said today. “If I find the right quality, I will do it.”
It’s November. He says this every year. The only thing we’re close to is the Norwich match, let the man work.
obviously it’s Messi and Pogba
I’m ITK, so just remember you read it here first
Pogba is only a name in the media.
He doesn’t actually exist?
Wow.
Arsenal’s transfer strategy is the sporting equivalent of Waiting for Godot.
Wind up the “40mil Carvalho” and “60mil Benzema” articles then…
It’ll be hard to get Benzema once he finishes his transfer to the French jail league.
On the contrary, I think he’d be really cheap!
Getting him to be able to actually play a game, on the other hand…
Has he ever been this transparent?
Colour me excited. And Arsenal red.
He often is, it’s just snippets are often taken out of context and peddled throughout “news” sources like the S*n and the M*il
William. The Wall. Carvalho.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spAOPmX-71g
Yes, I think Carvalho would be an excellent addition to our team, if we could get him?!
Anybody can get Carvalho. He’s got a release clause and he’s made it clear in the past he’s more than happy to come.
Pay the clause and you get him. It’s one of the easier things to do in football.
Of course, you have to actually pay the clause.
Youtube. Comp. Ilation.
‘“We are in a position where we want to do something,” he said today. “If I find the right quality, I will do it.”’
As long as he’s not talking about buying a couple of new jumpers at H&M in the January sales.
You know he loves a bargain but only for stuff he has a need for.
He will buy the jumpers if 1) He has a need for them 2) Thinks it’s value for money.
Let’s hope he finds the player he wants at the price he thinks is right.
It would need to be a jumper that improves his existing collection of jumpers.
And even then it’s not completely down to us. Does H&M want to sell? Does the jumper want to leave?
Also don’t forget the personality of the new jumper and whether it would fit the “jumper team spirit”. The last thing we want is the new jumper thinking he is better than the other jumpers
He says that all the time. If he finds the right quality
There was plenty better than arteta and flamini in the summer
We won’t sign anyone. Imagine the laughter if he just said that. This way he keeps you hoping and he has his ready made excuse
What people dont understand is not that “was there really no one better than Arteta or Giroud?!”…the issue is find someone that is of a quality that next year we dont start wanting to buy another one again. We cant just replace a mediocre player with a better mediocre player.
But it works so well! Look at Pedro usurping Cuadrado as one of the most useless £20m+ players ever!
Pedro’s an excellent player and would improve our team
Pedro is an excellent player, but the question should be: Where exactly would he improve our team? His natural position is on the right flank, which is currently about the most congested place in the Arsenal team. With Theo, Ox, Ramsey, Campbell and in theory Wilshere already fighting over that spot. It would be easy now when 3-4 of them are injured, but would he start when they are fit? On the left he is out of position, and immediately in Sanchez’s shadow. Not even considering the other players we have who can play there. As a straight striker he… Read more »
He would score and create from the right hand side of attacking midfield.
Ramsey, Chamberlain and Campbell has score 2 goals between them this season and assisted 1, it’s a very clear area for improvement in our team!
Have scored*
Post January: “I couldn’t find the right player with the top top quality. There was no one available and it’s hard, especially when you got such a good squad to find an even better replacement.” And then he will say something about the winter break and that the January window isn’t optimal.
With this prediction I wont be disappointed, but a late x-mas present is never wrong . . .
I’m a bit surprised at Wenger’s comments, to be honest. Everyone in these comment sections was saying we needed a DM in the summer, but Wenger did not appear to be looking for one, instead trusting Arteta and Flamini as Coquelin’s backup. Now Coquelin is out for a few months, and suddenly we need a signing? What happened to make him change his mind? Flamini has been decent enough when he’s played, and Arteta has been permanently crocked since the beginning of last year, so what has changed? I’m not too hopeful over this transfer window either way though. Coquelin… Read more »
It’s a few months later and he has to start planning for the future of Arteta and Flamini playing potentially their last 1-2 years at the club. With Arteta’s legs going, it looks like Wenger is now convinced that his midfield circumvent of Arteta, Flamini and Coquelin is now likely one man short, hence the need for a player to add to that depth to make up the numbers. He may have also had to revaluate Theo’s ability to stay injury free and thus look to add to Welbeck, Theo and Giroud. Let’s make no mistake though, if someone like… Read more »
Ah swishy swish swish, you have made it all so clear. How could we possibly have expected Arsene to contemplate these issues a few months ago. Thanks for that incredibly insightful comment. Can’t believe the rest of us didn’t see it. So bloody obvious. Damn.
Add to that Ox has not been able to sustain a run of matches and hasn’t looked yet like an option for middle of the pitch, and we loaned out the next line of youth candidates.
Absolutely agreed. Carvalho would be a good physical option. In fact a good option all round, imo…
Chill out people its not like we haven’t been here before.
I have been around long enough to know his November, December and first week of February statements about the window. This is just the teaser statement. Still trust that he has a better handle on the club than I would so… carry on (Yeah, because the board was awaiting Roswelch’s approval. 🙂 )
Look to my coming, at first light, on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.
Don’t suppose you know what happened to Lady Eowyn and “her” stories do you?
Love the guy but why wait until we have to do it . Financially the club is in a position where we could have bought before the season started and given him games to find his way . It was wrong not to in my humble opinion .
Not argueing with you.
I feel like finding top top quality is not the most important question this January, knowing Anybody is better than Nobody.
We have Anybody. I hear he’s injured, though.
That kind of thinking is what got us Silvestre and Squillaci.
what is the point again if he buys on final day of window
Jesus this again, can people stop throwing stupid names about and talking utter rubbish.
Brace yourselves
The Källström returns.
I can’t handle another transfer window!
I hate transfer windows…it’s like when you were about 12 and you ask a pretty girl out and she say’s “I’ll think about it” but inside you know she’s thinking “fuck off you twat”, you keep hoping but you know in the end your dreams will be shattered…
I’ve heard pele is available!
Liar liar pants on fire.
Arsene be trollin’!
I may be wrong and it is the name we hear all the time but William Carvalho or Lars Bender tickevery box for US. Young, fills a gaping hole, potential to improve from a great starting level and willing it seems to come. If we were ever going to push the boat out in a winter window for me, it is him. Sporting/Bayer would be reluctant to sell but this comes back to my push the boat out comment. If it were me I wouldn’t worry about cup tie nonsense for CL (Bender). By the time the knock out rounds… Read more »
I believe the Coq has left that hole gaping.
I just saw a classic episode of the Simpsons where Homer says the family should “buy a new dog – one with an un-twistable stomach” …and I think he’s on to something. I say we buy a Walcott, a Wilshire and a Welbeck… with legs made of steel.
Carvalho messing about with his contract at the minute. Hope we get him. Only player we need in my opinion…
If he can mess with his contract at his current club, he can repeat it here.
Wenger is going to look for a player like Monreal or Gabriel that can come in and cover Coquelin until he is fit, but also one that will not be expecting to be a full-time starter right away knowing that Coquelin will get his spot back when fit and he will have to fight to earn it as Monreal has done. The top flight player like Caravalho will be too expensive in January for Wenger and he’ll look to go for a name that is most likely not on anyone’s radar now. Preferably it would be someone with experience in… Read more »
I think Wenger believed that he could go one more season with Arteta. I was a bit surprised frankly that he extended Arteta. I felt Flamini would be useful as a back up for another season or so plus as a utility since he is younger than Arteta and can cover several positions. The fact that Wenger did not move for Kongdogbia or say an Illaramendi may suggest he felt Arteta could do an equal job (in his mind) and he was prepared to wait closer to Euros to see what else may feature on market. I think the risk… Read more »
I am pretty sure I’ve heard this song before but still..
YAAAY! We are going to sign someone and we will finally be able to compete with the big boys.