Full Highlights

1-0 Merida

1-1 Insua

2-1 Bendtner

Eden Hazard

Hazard is an attacking midfielder currently playing for Lille in French Ligue 1. He is very short at only 1.7 metres tall but is super quick and already has a great passing range at only 18. The Daily Mail and Daily Mirror both have reported this story and although both papers don’t have the best rumour to signing ratio it sounds like a signing Wenger would make. The Daily Mirror reported he was so keen to scare off interest he would offer around 5 million in January. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man Utd and Inter Milan have all shown interest but Hazard has declared himself that as a child he dreamed of playing for Arsenal or Real Madrid.

Gregory Van Der Wiel

Van Der Wiel is the 21 Year Old right back of Ajax. It is reported that Wenger was keen on the player after spotting him whilst watching Vermaelen. Ajax rate the player in the £7 million bracket and seeming Sagna is ageing in the Wenger age range it seems it may happen. i don’t belive Wenger see’s Eboue as the replacement for Sagna and he is only a year or so behind his age so it seems a realistic chance, if not in January but in the summer. After Thomas Vermaelen has been so good Wenger may be tempted. Gavin Hoyte is the only right back coming from youth and Pedro Bothelo who’s on loan seems a bit of idiot, causing havoc wherever he goes.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Another young right back this time playign his football  at Osasuna. He is a very bright proposition and Wenger believes he can steal him from the Spanish club for only 2 million. Azilicueta is 20 and would be a good signing due to his potential and at only £2 million would attract Wenger like nothing else.

The list is a bit short isn’t it?

Hence the title realistic signings that is the answer to your question. Currently Wenger knows he will need to replace Alex Song On the window but is not sure how to do it. I don’t believe he will go for Vieira and I think St Etiene will price themselves out of a sale by rating Matuidi at around £15 million. Wenger probably is eyeing a 27 year old player who is unsettled or is wanting a new challenge who we haven’t heard of but I’ll leave that to him.

REMEMBER TO TUNE IN AFTER TONIGHT’S GAME V LIVERPOOL FOR MATCH HIGHLIGHTS!

Much like as you play free poker tournaments, picking up players during the transfer window can be a bit of a gamble. You really won’t know how they will work out until they get out on the pitch. However, unlike playing on poker websites, at least these players have some type of track record, so you know at least a little about what you are getting. Regardless of who we pick up, hopefully they will help the team in a substantial way.

This January we could do with a back up Centre Back for Vermaelen and Gallas and a experienced player who can take the CDM role when Song Leaves for the cup of nations.

Song has been playing brilliant so far this season and is continuing to improve every game he plays in red, but in my opinion because Denilson will only be reaching match fitness by the time Song leaves, we can’t just throw him into the team with little fitness and awareness. This could be catastrophic.

Ramsey is not the sort of player who can play that role because he likes to get forward, and although I believe he is good enough, he has virtually no experience to get us through tough game, which I’m sure await.

People are bringing up the idea of Viera, I believe this is the wrong way to do things. Sorry to all those who want him back but he won’t be the player of the past. I would prefer a player of around 27 or 28 with the legs for our play but with tons of experience. Such a player I’m not sure of but I know I will get suggestions in the comments so fire away.

We need good back up Centre Back. Silvestre and Senderos are not good enough. Full stop. We have Nordveit but he’s on loan in Germany and won’t be recalled and Djourou who is good is injured for the duration.

Therefore a good CB is a must. Who I shall let you decide in the comments again because I’m getting lazy. So keep the comments coming!

With these two additions I’m sure we would win two trophies this season, my bets are The FA Cup and League. Am I mad or down to earth, you decide!

The 19-year-old Spaniard enjoyed a short spell back in his homeland in the 2007/08 campaign after being allowed to join Racing Santander.

There had been talk of a similar deal being struck this summer, with the teenage midfielder keen to experience regular first-team football.

Spanish second division outfit Levante were reported to be looking to strike a deal, with Merida believed to be interested in making such a move.

However, Wenger insists the youngster will be going nowhere as he remains part of his plans for the 2009/10 campaign.

“Wenger has spoken with Fran and was very clear with him,” said Merida’s agent Joseba Diaz.

“The season will be very long and he could be needed at Arsenal, so there is no chance of a move.”

Despite initially expressing an interest in a loan switch, Merida claims he is happy to stay at Emirates Stadium after being given assurances by his manager that he will be given every opportunity to prove himself.

“The fact that the coach wants me to stay has given me a lot of confidence and that is very important for me,” he told Radio Nou.

“From this moment I will be giving my all to earn an opportunity in the first-team.”

Eboue to Fiorentina

I haven’t posted this story on Arsenal-highlights this week because I was unsure of it’s roots but it seems now that there is firm proof that Fiorentina among other clubs will bid for Eboue, although personally I can’t deem it to be the £8 million which the media have reported.

The Viola coach, Cesare Prandellim, has admitted he would love to have Arsenal right-back Emmanuel Eboue at Fiorentina next season:

“Eboue is a very important player,” he said. “In attack he is second to very few players in his role.

“I’m not going to look at other positions because first we want to evaluate what we have in order not to make the slightest mistake in the market.

“We have to make targeted moves. Eboue has characteristics which we are definitely looking for.

“We want to attack a lot on the wings and so we need players who are good at forcing their way through and with good technical skills too.

“I repeat that this Arsenal lad has a stand-out driving force.

“I don’t want to think about other roles at the moment, also because he is not yet our player.”

To add to Fiorentina’s move Athletico Madrid has been linked after a move last January failed as well as according to his agent other Spanish links.

£7 million bid for Chelsea striker Kalou

The news of the world is reporting this morning that Arsenal are planning are £7 million bid for Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou. Kalou earlier in his career had a trial at Arsenal before moving to Feyenoord then in 2006 he moved for £8 million to Chelsea. Arsene has continued tracking him ever since, and Kalou admitted last year he would love to work under Wenger.

Kalou may be eager for a move seeming last year he only made 17 appearances for the blues and scored 10 goals. he wants to hold down a regular starting place and maybe Arsenal can provide that. Whether he is the type of player I and most want us to sign is another issue.

£15 million bid for Huntelaar + Lee Catermole

Contradicting reports that Harry Redknapp has flown out to agree personal terms with the forward, The Sunday Express prints that Wenger is about to bid £15 million with the unwanted forward of Real Madrid. Although The News of the world are reporting that Redknapp has flown out to Amsterdam to agree personal terms after an £18 million fee was arranged. How could this be after yesterday the Spurs boss said financially it would be out of his reach?

The Sunday Express are also reporting that Arsenal are also planning a “£10 millon bid for Lee Catermole which would be a good signing in my view.

Wenger leading the chase to sign Brazilian wonderkid Wellington

Finally the News of the world is saying Wenger is leading to sign the Brazilian wonder kid Wellington after beating competition from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man Utd and Chelsea. The 17 year old had a week long trial in December and impressed Wenegr in a youth game versus Norwich. The player has yet to sign a contract with Fluminense and is ready to sign a lucrative deal to England.

]]> http://www.arsenal-highlights.co.uk/blog/2009/07/eboue-to-the-fiorentina-arsenal-7-million-bid-for-a-striker-and-much-more/feed/ 5 http://www.arsenal-highlights.co.uk/blog/2009/07/derby-near-to-securing-randall-on-season-loan/ http://www.arsenal-highlights.co.uk/blog/2009/07/derby-near-to-securing-randall-on-season-loan/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:19:32 +0000 Arsenal-highlights.co.uk http://www.arsenal-highlights.co.uk/blog/?p=1149 Nigel Clough current Derby County manager is very near to securing Mark Randall on loan for the season an hopes he can complete the move before their pre-season tour.

“I think we’ve got the okay from Arsenal that he will be joining up with us on Tuesday and hopefully he will feature in two out of the three games, probably Tuesday and Saturday,” said Clough.

“This week will be ideal to have a look at him with a view to a loan – maybe to January or maybe for the whole season.

“There is no point coming training. You can only see a certain amount in training but this way we can see him in games.”

My opinion on the deal

I think this is a good deal for both parties because Mark Randall can gain good championship experience throughout this season because he wouldn’t of been playing first team football for Arsenal and it also slips a few quid from our wage bill. Not much but every little helps!

Anyway the boy is 15 and plays defence and midfield and is named Jamie Edge.

More throughout the day..

On Almunia: He has shown great ability this season as a great shot stopper and showing great agility. He has made very important saves which kept us in games and has proved a great penalty kick stopper also. In my opinion i believe Manuel was a more eager keeper and showed alot more determination when Lehmann was around. This is beacuse when there is competition for your place in a club it makes you try harder and indeed prove yourself worthy for your position. Almunia did this respectiveley and now has earned his right as number one. Saying this though, would he be better if he had someone also pushing for a starting call up?

On Fabianski: Did well this season, although young and inexperienced. Produced good displays in the cup runs. He did though make mistakes which cost us alot of goals for example 4-4 at anfield. He has been heavily criticised for running out too early and leaving the goal vulnerable. He is one for the future as it is known goalkeepers develop later than outfield players.

On The answer: I personally feel we need to bring in a keeper to challenge for the number one spot, although this is not neccesarily our priority. It will benefit the club to make us more solid in defence and make the players try harder to earn their place.  Fabianski is still young (especially for a keeper) and has plenty of time to ahead of him and i feel a big name between the posts will help him develop also.

Other suggestions are to bring in a young goalkepper who could develop into our future number one (no-dissrespect to Fabianski);

Name: Guilermo Ochoa
Age: 23
Current Club: America, Mexico
Ochoa broke onto the scene at 18 years of age. He has made over 150 appearances and 47 international duty caps for Mexico.
He may be criticised beacuse the mexican league is not as competitive as the EPL.

Name: Igor Akinfeev
Age: 22
Current Club: Cska Moscow, Russia
Akinfeev made his debut at 17. Has captained his side twice in the champions league and has made over 30 appeareances at national level for Russia.

Other young goalkeepers worth a mention are:
Rene Adler: 24 years of age, The up and coming German number one and making 75 appearances for German side Bayer Laverkusen

Sergio Asenjo: First choice keeper for Real Valladolid at only 19 years of age

Let me know what you think. Are you happy with our two keepers now? Do we need to invest money in that department? You decide.

As Always. HarregasTheGooner

This is true becasue it has come of their official website saying:

Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

At Cristiano’s request – who has again expressed his desire to leave – and after discussion with the player’s representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.

Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice.

Yes, finally that idiot will be leaving English football for the better!