I’ve noticed that days without football move very slowly and I figured that I’m better off counting the square boxes on my ceiling while waiting for Arsenal’s pre-season adventure to start.
Post-Euro 2012 articles are the order of the day and I’ve had my fair share of that. However, the media Vultures picked up where they left off, with more news that would make a few fans here and there drool.
Arsenal fans have become accustomed to receiving news updates about their club linked to players in intergalactic nebulas and today’s no different.
Things are a bit cool in this side of the world, as it has been reported that the Rennes hierarchy haven’t received any bid for their prized asset, Yann M’Vila.
He has been linked with a move to Arsenal throughout the summer, and there was a point where it was believed that the deal was “99% done”. Like Olivier Giroud, Arsenal fans have waited anxiously to hear the announcement of the signing but the news from the Rennes management will certainly be a cause for concern.
From an Arsenal perspective, there are mixed emotions over the signing of Yann M’Vila.
On this corner, there are the Gooners that believe that M’Vila is badly needed at Arsenal as an adequate cover for Alex Song and they are probably praying and fasting vehemently for the deal to go through.
They’ve stated their concerns on Song’s positioning that cost the Gunners last season and they believe that M’Vila will give Song a run for his money.
On the other corner, there are the Gooners that have placed their faith in young Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong, and they feel that the signing of M’Vila will stunt their progress at the club.
They have seen Coquelin’s performances last season and they were hugely impressed by the young Frenchman and the fact that he’s a versatile player made them sing more sweet tunes about him.
If I’m to ever choose sides between these sets of Gooners, I’ll go with the folks that want Yann M’Vila to join Arsenal. His quality has been tested and he’s just 21 years of age. Under Arsene Wenger’s tutelage, M’Vila can become a superstar and Arsenal will provide the platform for the youngster to reach greater heights.
Lyon’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, has also declared that Arsenal hasn’t made any bid for Hugo Lloris.
Lloris is a great goalkeeper but logically speaking, I don’t see any need why Arsenal wants to go for a keeper of his quality, if the club still has plans for Wojciech Szczesny.
We know that Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone have a foot outside the gates of the Emirates, so signing a top class goalie like Lloris will definitely hinder Szczesny’s progress in the club.
Moving on, there have been a host of players linked with moves out of Arsenal.
Starting with more concrete news, youngster Joel Campbell has sealed a loan switch to Real Betis for an entire season. Campbell enjoyed a brilliant loan spell with FC Lorient but he still has work permit issues.
We all hope that he won’t follow in the footsteps of Carlos Vela, that was loaned to every club in the Milky Way before wanting out after finding a “planet” he favored.
Sao Paulo intend to approach Arsenal for another loan move for Denilson Perreira Neves. Denny was the first player to raise the white flag two seasons ago and he got a loan move to his previous employers, Sao Paulo.
However, things got a bit rough for the Brazilian as he got three red cards in his first four games or so and he also had a Twitter row with the fans.
Arsenal has been trying to engineer a permanent move for the bloke but Sao Paulo hasn’t been able to meet the Gunner’s demands. A loan move won’t be a bad idea but it’s glaring that Denilson isn’t needed at Arsenal.
Andrey Arshavin is another player that is edging close to a move away from North London. His proposed loan spell to Zenit hit a brick wall after his disgraceful comments in the wake of Russia’s shameful exit from the group stages of Euro 2012.
However, Galatasaray is knocking on Arsenal’s door for the diminutive Russian and it might be a move that midfield maestro may favor. Besides, a move to the Turkish outfit will give him a chance to meet Arsenal’s African cult hero, Farmer Emmanuel Eboue.
In as much as I’ve seen the raw potential in Carl Jenkinson, the sale of Emmanuel Eboue was certainly a cause for concern last season. Kudos to Coquelin for deputizing admirably as a right back.
Finally, it’s been reported that Arsenal is gearing up for contract talks with Theo Walcott while Robin van Persie’s fate may be decided next week.
A new contract is no less than Walcott deserves and his output for Arsenal in recent times have been very encouraging. He has had his fair share of disappointments (missing out on the 2010 World Cup, no “football brain”) but he has kept a level head and has vastly improved as a player.
In my Arsenal BlackBerry group, Team Gooner Daily, @mayorbaze instigated a constructive argument that if you had to choose which player to let go between RVP and Walcott, who would it be?
@eromzy and @bolagunner were quick to jump into the van Persie bandwagon without thinking twice.
@Dondeonbeke stated that van Persie is a 29-year-old forward who just had his best season and in his opinion can only repeat that one more year.
Theo on the other hand is a 23 year old winger who has consistently gotten better with each season and will continue to improve whether as a winger or a forward which he craves.
@Dondeonbeke professed his love RVP but if we had to lose one this season; I’d sell him before Theo.
@wheelsindk stated that experience is what Arsenal lacked and Walcott has surprisingly had a lot of games under his belt but he’s still inconsistent. So he’ll take RVP any day.
@nwakibie dediced not to choose sides but he buttressed a few points that Arsenal has waited really long for van Persie to shine but we await Walcott’s edge of glory he is still contributing some decent stats though I know he can messes up a few times.
As for me, it’s like making a decision between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
Here’s a shoutout to the folks in my Arsenal BlackBerry group,
Crazy-ass intelligent lot.
Feel free to share your thoughts as well.
I’ll love to know what you think about M’Vila and Lloris as well as the van Persie-Walcott argument.
Sayonara.
