Vermaelen | emiratesviewpoint

Posts Tagged ‘ Vermaelen ’

Just get Scott Dann!

Arsenal has been looking for a solid defender ever since the start of the transfer market this season. Yes, we signed Carl Jenkinson but he’s just one for the future.

Firstly we were close to signing Phil Jones, but he just chose to join Manchester United instead. Considering Manchester United’s recent successes, no one can blame him.

The rumor of Gary Cahill has just been inconspicuous. First it seemed the rumor was pretty strong, and then the news just kept fading away. His transfer to Arsenal now seems highly unlikely

Then there was Christopher Samba, who was misquoted by The Sun that he expressed an interest to join Arsenal. He came back and quashed it furiously. He might as well be leaving Blackburn, but his price tag may just a bit too much for what he’s worth to Arsenal.

The first bid of 10m was turned down by Everton for Jagielka. He seems to be the most likely defender to join Arsenal as rumour has it that Wenger will re-bid for 15m. That would be an interesting dilemma for Moyes, and only patience will dictate this transfer.

What about Scott Dann? Arsenal has been linked with him for a while now. He was close to a switch to Stoke but it didn’t materialize in the last minute. From then on the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool have also joined the race. I know Birmingham was relegated last season, but they have always been a gritty defensive team. All the Premier League clubs last season found it hard to break the Birmigham defense, especially in St Andrews. The reason for that is both Roger Johnson and Scott Dann were rock solid in defense.

One thing is encouraging is that Wenger is only showing interest in Premier League defenders, those who have been performing consistently and are physically capable of handling the pressure week in and out. He’s not going to risk it with an overseas signing this time around.

If a 10m bid is enough to secure Scott Dann, then Wenger should put in some serious thought to getting the 24 year old centre-back to Arsenal. Let’s face it, time is running out and teams will be more and more hesitant to get rid of their first choice defenders as it’ll be even harder to replace them. Dann would be a strong back-up to both Vermaelen and Koscielny. He would also probably provide stiff competition to Squillaci for a run in the first team!

PS: Join our Fantasy Premier League for the 2011/2012 season, league invitation code: 169093-63714

Follow me @sharjil

2011: 08/05
POSTED BY: Sharjil
CATEGORY: Arsenal
Transfer Related
TAGS: Arsenal
Arsene Wenger
Birmingham City
Carl Jenkinson
Chelsea
Chris Samba
emiratesviewpoint
Koscielny
Liverpool
Manchester United
Moyes
Phil Jagielka
Phil Jones
Roger Johnson
Scott Dann
Squillaci
Tottenham
Vermaelen
Wenger
2 comments

Scouting Michael Ciani to Arsenal

With Arsene Wenger confirming he will sign a defender for cover to both Vermaelen and Squillaci, rumours of a new center back are more frequent. One of those defenders that have popped up in the media as being in the Arsenal radar is Michael Ciani

He is Chamakh’s former team mate at Bordeaux, and tall too! Standing at 6 ft 2 inches is not a joke. Arsenal are always linked with tall defenders (Gary Cahill for e.g.) but have not signed any in the recent past.

Ciani has been quite impressive for Bordeaux after joining the club in the summer of 2009. He was especially strong and composed for Bordeaux in their Champions League campaign last season and has continued his consistency so far this season as well. So Ciani is definitely not inexperienced in the Champions League side of football. Infact he has already got one international cap. After France’s dismal display at the 2010 World Cup, it looks like Ciani could be looked upon and called up more often to the national side.

Michael Ciani Michael Ciani of Bordeaux gestures during the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Juventus FC and FC Girondins de Bordeaux at the Olympic Stadium on September 15, 2009 in Turin, Italy.

However, is he too expensive as cover for two frontline defenders? Probably. Michael Ciani would be atleast 10 mill and I’m not sure Wenger will gamble on a defender without Premier League experience to use as cover for January. Secondly, Ciani is also French. Arsenal have always been criticized for being the French team of England. It probably is true. Just imagine Clichy, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Nasri and Diaby in the same lineup. It’s all French. Fans are a bit wary of that and I think Wenger will be too to sign another French player for Ligue 1. It’s probably why we’re hearing more rumours of English defenders being linked with Arsenal, like Cahill, Upson and Woodgate. Not to even forget that Bordeaux will try a lot harder to keep one of their star defenders, after losing both Chamakh and Gourcuff last season.

I personally don’t see Squillaci as being our main central defender. He’s more like Mikael Silvestre of Arsenal type of player. Since Vermaelen’s injury just keeps getting worse and it seems like his role this season will be minimal, we definitely need to sign someone better than Squillaci. Ciani has all the qualities to be a formidable defender in the Premier League and possibly much better than Squillaci as well. So if the Arsenal backroom is as ambitious as they portray to the media, then Wenger should give some serious consideration in signing someone like Ciani. With just a few days left to the close of the transfer window, Wenger has to think quick!

2011: 01/22
POSTED BY: Sharjil
CATEGORY: Transfer Related
TAGS: Arsenal
Arsene Wenger
Bordeaux
Clichy
Diaby
emiratesviewpoint
Gary Cahill
Jonathan Woodgate
Koscielny
Matthew Upson
Michael Ciani
Nasri
Sagna
Squillaci
Vermaelen
5 comments

Arsenal vs Wigan: Problems Persist

For Arsenal it was the same Achilles heel which has blighted us all season. Our soft defending has seen two points slip away at a crucial time of the season. The result isn’t a catastrophe but it is certainly a huge annoyance given Wigan had 10 men at the time and we had 3 points comfortably within our grasp.

After the game, a lot of people in the media and Arsenal fans alike blamed the draw on Wenger and the wholesale changes which he made. But in truth, the equalising goal we conceded was purely down to bad defending by Squillaci and Fabianski. Squillaci did not follow the basics of defending and didn’t get anywhere near goal side of Caldwell. He then compounded it all by bundling it into the net. Fabianski lived up to his reputation of not commanding the box at set pieces and was in no man’s land when the ball was headed back across the face of the goal. Flappianski at his very best.

We will never win the title as long as Wenger refuses to buy a top class commanding centre back and a quality goal keeper. It is so glaringly obvious where the team needs to strengthen, and we always hear about how much money there is available. Manchester City have already shown by splashing out 30m on Dzeko that they mean business. Chelsea and Tottenham will also probably strengthen in January. We mustn’t allow ourselves to be left behind and persist with Squillaci until Vermaelen is fit again. Points will continue to be dropped.

I would like to see Johan Djourou given an extended run in the team. He played magnificently against Chelsea and controlled Drogba all game – the first time for a few years an Arsenal defender has managed to get the better of the Ivorian. In goal meanwhile, Szczesny is still young, but he is confident and commanding and also should get a run in the team now. He showed at Old Trafford he can handle the occasion and Fabianski simply isn’t good enough for Arsenal despite his decent form for a few weeks. When it really matters, he will still make bad mistakes and we will continue to concede from set pieces as he does not inspire any confidence in those in front of him.

Looking forward, we will need to be at our best against Birmingham on Saturday if we want to take full points from St Andrews. They have an excellent record there and have already held Manchester Utd, Spurs and beaten Chelsea there this season. Cesc will be back from suspension which is a massive boost and the likes of Nasri and Song will be almost certainly be restored to the starting line up. It is games like these which are a test of our title credentials but I am confident that if we play to our best, we will beat Birmingham and cap off a pretty good Christmas period. COYR.

Follow me on twitter: @AndyHa_

2010: 12/30
POSTED BY: emiratesviewpoint
CATEGORY: Match Related
TAGS: Achilles heel
Arsenal
Birmingham
Caldwell
Chelsea
Christmas
Djourou
Drogba
Dzeko
emiratesviewpoint
Fabianski
Fabregas
Man City
Old Trafford
Spurs
Squillaci
St Andrews
Vermaelen
Wenger
Wigan
Leave a comment

Handle Djourou With Care

First of all, the recent Arsenal injury news has been driving me nuts. At the end of November, Eboue’s injury looked serious and we were told that he would out for 4-5 weeks. He then returned just a game later. Koscielny’s injury scare was even worse, as it was thought he would be out until the New Year. Now he seems to be fit to face Partizan tonight. It’s great that our players are recovering so remarkably fast! However, do think of us fans when you tell us that a player is out for so long, it just increases our tensions!

Djourou is also apparently taking no part in tonight’s game against Partizan because of a thigh problem. Although Wenger did tell us that they’re being ‘cautious’ more than anything else. It just also shows how important Djourou has suddenly become for our campaign this season.

When Djourou was sent out on loan to Birmingham in 2007, I didn’t think he’d have a chance to break through into the Arsenal first team. He did play relatively well though, and then came back. His horrific knee injury then set him back again, adding doubts to his future at Arsenal last season.

His transformation and rehabilitation after injury has really been superb. I don’t know to whose credit his revival should go to, but nonetheless, Djourou has been like a new signing to Arsenal this season.

In all his appearances so far at Arsenal, he hasn’t done too much wrong. His performance against Fulham really did showcase his defensive capabilities, especially in the air. Arsene Wenger used the word ‘dominant’ to describe his game against Fulham last weekend. That really is the perfect word. Dominance is something we haven’t seen recently in the Arsenal defense, especially since Vermaelen’s absence from the first team.

He’d probably still not make the first team on a regular basis after Vermaelen is back. Either Squillaci or Koscielny will partner Vermaelen at the heart of defence then. Atleast now we have a strong defensive cover that is dependable even on difficult matches.

Djourou (if injury free!) should still get match time in the remaining Carling Cup games and also possibly be a regular starter for the F.A. Cup campaign next season. He really should use these games to build more confidence and put together a string of consistent performances under his belt.

Arsene Wenger has seemed to put one of those stickers on him labelled ‘Fragile – Handle With Care’. He probably should be, but not to a large extent. If Djourou is to build into the quality world-class defender that we need him to be, then Wenger really shouldn’t hesitate or think twice before playing him. It’s time to put his injuries behind and treat him like a totally different player in the Arsenal ranks.

One thing I am happy that Wenger hasn’t done with him is turn him into a DM, which Djourou himself had proposed to be a couple of years back after the departure of Flamini. That would’ve been disastrous as he really does look like a natural CB and I can’t see him playing anywhere else now.

Finally, credit to Djourou for not turning into his erratic Swiss counterpart Philippe Senderos. Two thumbs up for Johan! The future for Arsenal just keeps looking bright.