Righto, a few bits and pieces this Friday morning.
First up, it looks as if Sol Campbell is going to sign a new one year deal with the club. After Sunderland signed Titus Bramble instead, Newcastle withdrew their interest and Celtic remain in Scotland it seems we’re the only option left to him.
As I said yesterday, I have mixed feelings. His experience and attitude is something that was missing from the dressing room and will be important. There’s no doubt Vermaelen, Koscielny and Djourou can all learn from him as well. I do wonder if his legs have got what it takes to get through a whole campaign though and with the new season not far away now he ought to get off honeymoon and into some serious training, because at his age he’s going to need it.
If that’s the extent of our defensive signings I’ll admit to being a bit worried. There’s still talk Arsene is looking for another centre-half but I wouldn’t hold my breath, to be honest. As suggested yesterday he might well view Nordtveit as his 5th defender, knowing Song can fill in there if necessary. It wouldn’t be my ideal defensive roster, I still think we’re missing the dominant, pacey and experienced player who will add real solidity to our back four.
However, while fully accepting our need for better defensive recruitment I think the most important position to be filled this summer is that of goalkeeper. There’s a rather scary bit in the Mirror where John Cross reckons we’ll sign Mark Schwarzer or play Fabianski as number one. That cannot be the extent of our options, surely? That’s like saying your dinner choices are a slightly stale cheese sandwich or a plate of Water Sheringham poo.
The Schwarzer thing is complicated by the fact Fulham have no manager. Mr Potato Head turned them down to stay at Ajax so trying to do any kind of deal with them at the moment is complicated. I know we’ve been looking elsewhere – unsuccessfully – so I can’t believe he’s the only potential option, nor can I believe that Fabianski is a candidate for the top spot. Apparently Almunia has been ‘frozen out’ (The Sun more comfortingly says AW has told both Fab and Al they’re not in the running) but the idea of going into a new season with Fabianski in goal is both frightening and ludicrous.
Last season showed that Arsenal have serious defensive deficiencies, just look at the amount of goals we conceded and the way we conceded them, so the investment this summer had to be in players who would improve things. So far we haven’t really done that. I was never his greatest fan but neither Kosciely or Djourou can be put above Gallas just yet. Djourou’s injury problems will remain a worry for a while to come, Koscielny has got to make a huge step up and it’s going to take him time to do that.
And above all else we need an experienced goalkeeper in whom the defence have some trust. This was a key issue for me last season. It was obvious that our defenders did not have a great deal of faith in the skittish Almunia or feeble Fabanski. Starting the season with either one of them would be a recipe for disaster and a sign that none of the lessons of last season are being learned.
I still think we’ll sign a keeper, I’m not trying to suggest we won’t, I’m just a bit anxious to get it sorted. To me it’s just so blindingly obvious that we need one it’s impossible that it won’t happen. As to whether or not we bring in another defender, I just don’t know. Would a 35 year old Sol sign on if he knew he was going to be one of five? Arsenal don’t spend money as much as we’d like. Did we bash out £10m or so on Koscielny for him not to play? If we pay money for another defender we’re not going to do it so he can sit on his hole every week. And where does that leave Sol?
A man of his age wants to play games. He’ll only come back if he knows there’s a reasonable chance he’s going to get a decent amount of football. So perhaps the re-signing of Sol tells us that there’s no further defensive signing to be made. We shall see what transpires.
Also in the Mirror this morning news that Borussia Dortmund and CSKA Moscow have apparently enquired about Tomas Rosicky. Can’t see that happening, to be honest. I know he’s hardly been a great success but until we can get Wilshere properly integrated into the team Rosicky is a player we should keep. And speaking of Jack the boss gave the clearest indication yet that his future lies at Arsenal and not on loan somewhere. He says:
At the moment I want Jack to gain experience, if possible at ArsenalSo I give him a chance now to play so that he can integrate into the first team. Ideally it is better that he gains experience with us.
Which is encouraging for the player and for us. He’s got the rest of pre-season to show the manager he’s ready and I’ve said before I’d much rather he developed with us than elsewhere.
Eduardo has gone to Shaktar Donetsk but showed his class with a goodbye message to the Arsenal fans. It was a nice touch from a classy guy and a great pro. Pete Gill chimed in with a great piece on F365 taking to task the scummy hatchet job in the Mail (although why anybody is outraged at anything the Mail does is beyond me. It’s like complaining lions are a bit bitey).
Finally for today, Thierry Henry always loved scoring against Sp*rs. He continued the tradition last night on his debut for the New York Gnus. Top man.
That’s your lot, have at it.
