September 1st
Welcome to a brand new month on Arseblog and to an Arsenal squad that shipped out two players on loan yesterday and brought one in on loan. As was widely expected we signed Mart Poom on loan until January while Justin Hoyte went to Sunderland for the rest of the season. Also heading north was David Bentley who will learn how to foul, cheat and smash people’s faces in at Blackburn all season long too. New rules this season mean that neither player will be allowed to play against Arsenal this season. The signing of Poom has got people moaning crying weeping talking though. Like I said yesterday he’s hardly the most exciting signing but in my opinion we’ve strengthened one of the areas that needed strengthening. For me he’s a better keeper than Almunia and that gives us more depth in that position. Jens is playing really well at the moment and he’s got the World Cup to motivate him too but knowing that there’s a half-decent keeper waiting in the wings can’t do any harm. I’m not sure why people are so bent out of shape.
Like most of you I’d like to have seen us bring in somebody to bolster the midfield but I think the manager really is only interested in signing somebody who will improve us considerably. We missed out on Baptista and earlier this summer we had a very large bid accepted for a player who has since moved elsewhere for an even larger fee because the club in question were prepared to meet the extraordinary demands of the player’s agent and close family member who had a vested interest in his career/transfer. There’s no doubt this player would have improved our squad and first team. As would Baptista. As would Robinho who we were seriously in for as well so it’s not as if we haven’t tried to bring in top class players. Those deals, for various reasons, haven’t worked out.
Should we have signed Jenas? Maybe he’d have been worth a pop but if you’d asked any Arsenal fan at the start of the summer if they’d fancy him and I think most would have said ‘not really’. It’s only the pressing need for a midfielder that makes him slightly attractive. Owen? I think it speaks volumes that the only club who were really interested in him was Newcastle United. Where were the Arsenals, Uniteds, Milans, Juves et al when a former European Player of the Year was so obviously available? Nowhere. That says it all to me. Not that Owen is a bad player but Newcastle is probably the right place for him. Big fish in a pond that thinks it’s bigger than it actually is.
So what we have is what we keep, until January at least. Personally I think as none of the three central midfielders picks up an injury then we’re all right and I’m confident we’ll be right up there fighting for the title. It is a bit of a gamble though and if the right player was available when the transfer window opens I hope the manager boosts the squad there. That aside, whatever you might think of the summer transfer action, or lack of it – har har, now is the time to get behind the players we have and support Arsenal. The manager has chosen to put his faith in the players we have. Shouldn’t return the compliment by putting our faith in the manager who has, without question, earned it since his arrival at the club?
Anyway, those of you who want to bicker and moan, go right ahead. *fingers in ears* – I CAN’T HEAR YOU, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA….
