Transfer Rumour Review: Phil Jones, Rodwell, Neuer & more
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In the best part of the last week Arsenal have been linked with several players. I will not be able to discuss absolutely every player but these include Phil Jones, Jack Rodwell, Lukas Podolski, Manuel Neuer and Bojan. In the following piece, I’ll attempt to write a tactical assessment of what each player could bring to Arsenal, whether I see the deal happening and that player’s role.
Phil Jones (defender, 19, Blackburn) has been scouted by Arsenal’s chief scout, Steve Rowley, on multiple occasions in the last two seasons. Those of you who follow me on twitter know what a fan I am of Jones. He makes brave interceptions, telling passes and swashbuckling runs forward from deep. Jones is an honest, tough lad, playing for a team full of big personalities, while still living at home with his mum and dad. I can see Arsenal bidding but with Jones on a long contract and Rovers having wealthy owners, I see the price bring too high. In any case, I expect Chelsea to ultimately sign him as heir to Terry.
Jack Rodwell (defensive midfielder, 20, Everton) has parallels with Jones. Both young, big, English and can play in defence and midfield. Rodwell is the naturally better footballer with bigger potential, Jones has the bigger heart with leadership qualities and is more a defender by trade. Either would be worthy additions at Arsenal and take Diaby’s role as the midfield powerhouse or as an additional defender. However, I fancy United to sign him. If Jones is heir to Terry, Rodwell could be heir to Rio.
Podolski (forward, 25, FC Köln) has had mixed fortunes at club level. In 3 years at Bayern Munich he scored just 26 times in 104 games. He’s back at FC Köln now, and has 12 goals this season. Where Podolski has become known in England is through his performances for Germany. He has a remarkable 42 in 84 caps. I like Podolski and would advocate him as a good signing able to bring a winning German temperament, tournament of success, pace and a thunderous shot. This season I’ve been struck by Arsenal’s reliance on Walcott’s pace. Im a team of Cesc, Van Persie, Nasri and Wilshere; it’s appeared to me that too many players run towards the ball to gain possession whilst not enough run away to make space or receive the ball. Podolski, like Walcott, could make these runs. I see this being a good signing, where Podolski could score 15 goals a season in a fluid 4-3-3 formation on the left of the forward line. I personally do not see this coming off as Arshavin, Nasri, Vela and (eventually) Miyaichi all play that role. If a player leaves, this may change.
The papers reported Wenger had enquired as to the availability of Manuel Neuer (goalkeeper, 25, Schalke). He is a few years experience and development ahead of Szczesny, and in truth is right now far better. Neuer’s distribution is world class in accuracy and speed. A coach has once said he is such a good footballer, Neuer could play in the German 3rd Division. However, Neuer appears set for Bayern Munich and Szczesny deserves his number 1 spot. A better signing would be a 36 year old, Premier League-experienced ‘keeper able to keep the wheel on when the Pole is out.
Bojan (striker/winger, 20, Barcelona) being linked in the press with Arsenal took me by surprise. I hope it does not happen. Not a naturally quick or strong player, but blessed with a hunter’s instinct for goals, he lacks physical attributes to fall back on when form deserts him. Bojan is also very lightweight to play off the shoulder of rugged centre backs like Samba, Huth and Hangeland. Yes he may finish moves on warm days at the Emirates when we are 2-0 up, but take him to the North on a miserable night full of aggressive players and I suspect he’d be found wanting.
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we need 4 players this summer Podaski and Hulk in attacking area,
need 1 decent GoalKeeper and big CB.
All we nead in the summer is a CB and a DM Nothing else and maybe Hazard but i think they said we have to loan him back to them for a season..
i would love wenger to buy 3 players jones, rodwell and a pacey winger…
sell d crap…. plz
nah i think we need a versatile player for cb/dm with pressence about them like sakho, and we as need a real cf (i think persie is amazing but jus over 200 appearance in 7 seasons says it all) i kno its is very wishful thinking but i think we could actually sign etoo if we tried hard and hes a natural goal scorer u could bank on him gettin 25 a season. ah well we’re allowed to dream….
No more future potentials. We have enough have that coming through. What we need now are Exp players to help take us to the next level.
hulk is whack!!! so is podolski as he coundn’t cut it at bayern so how on god’s green earth could he make it a Arsenal??
hulk is AMAZING he’s sort of like ronaldo stocky , strong , powerful long shot, fast , brazillian in fact i’d personally take him over hazard!
We don’t need podolski , podlski i cf jus like RVP he is not striker we need Goal poacher like chicharito and I really believe that wenger will go for Radamel Falcao and he is cheap something like 12 m pounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LZ5a3ktuJQ
I like your idea of a senior experienced keeper to come on, for me WS has to be number one.
I reckon we need cover for Song more than anything, someone who can mop stuff up if he gets injured, and to challenge him for his place in the team. With TV back we’ve got decent CB pairings of him and LK for fast technical teams, and TV & JD for the more physical games.
Would love to see Hazard come in too, amazing player. Bringing in those 2 players would let us lose Denilson and Arshavin (great player but too inconistent/unmotivated).
Wouldn’t mind a decent striker if Bendtner or Chamakh go. I think Vela will disappear too
Hazard please!! Add to that Baines, Cahill, ParkerMascerano, Falcao
Out Bendtner, Chamack, Squilaci, Clichy, Rosicky, Denilson and Arshavin if he not happy
Sorry to all those who are saying about Falcao joining Arsenal but I have been told by top European football journo that Arsenal will not be able to afford him.
He will cost in the region of 25-27 mil, and will most likely go to Inter or Man City.
A more realistic striker signing could be Eto or Milito, as Inter will have a big clear out.
As for defensive midfield there will be no one as Frimpong and Coqulen will be given a chance.
Defence will be added to.
would like to see us pip blackburn and bring in demba cisse. send bendtner and vela packing. quite frankly, you could add jet to that list–he cannot score in championship, how do we expect him to score in premier.
in defense, i would love to see vertonghen, who could work in the dm role as well as cb, sakho, or cahill. however, rodwell would be a fine addition.
what a player like scotty parker could show our midfield trio…
denilson, diaby, eboue, rosicknote, randall, eastmond, and squillaci can all hit the bricks.
@GoonerDareMKD: I hope we sign ramadel falcão. he is just excellente, incredible, he can realy score. i´m also FC Porto fan and i watch him every game and he is better than chicharito.
Buy:
FW: Benzema £20m
CMF: Parker £5m
CB: Cahill £15m
GK: Given £5m
Sell:
Almunia (Anything)
Squillaci (Anything),
Denilson £5m
Rosicky £5m
Bendtner £10m
keep dreaming by the time summer trianing camp starts the love afiar between WENGER and these players will restart over and we will see and hear the same bull crap that is the past four season
Falcao up front, scot parker in midfield,Garry Cahill in defence then we are competitive enough to challenge for honours.
guys, we should consider buying from borussia dortmund. i`ve said before, i`ll say it again-i like kagawa, subotic and barrios, think they would be great additions. for the goalkeepers problem, i have a perfect solution: anyone seen spanish primera games? EVERY SINGLE TEAM HAS A SPECTACULAR GOALKEEPER, FROM THE FIRST TO THE LAST. very talented nation. wenger could get a decent back-up for chesney for 2-3 millions without any doubt. gary cahill would be awesome signing. why? he should in the last 3-4 games against us why: he can score goals, he is tough, strong, english! defensive midfielder- i havent seen reo cokker, but i hear he is playing really good this season. try to get tiote, the guy is a monster, and should be available for around 6-10 millions. forwards-i would like van nistelrooy, huntelaar but i dont think arsenal will spend a lot in this area. i think podolski would be a flop, he cant play in good teams.
p.s. anyone seen how silvestre plays for werder? he is in the first 11 but constantly giving away the ball and making chances for the other team! funny!
we shud buy edinson cavani and kun aguero. Sell chamakh and bendtner. Buy per mertesecker and sell diaby. Buy lloris or neuer and sell almunia and fabianski. Buy pjanic, ben arfa and sell rosicky, denilson. Also buy hazard n cahill
@jdwalcott: yeah, change the whole team and wait one season till they all get used to playing together! nice one!!
Rodwell would be enough since he can be replacement for Song and also back up for defence. But I also hope Arshavin faces next season like he did last week at Manu game
just watched the goals bentdtner scored in the last 2-3 years and i think we should keep him for another season. he played on the WC injured, was out for a long time and couldn`t eally get in form. you all forget that he played a winger in that everton 1-6 game and he did good, very good imo and he was awesome in that position in a lot of games last season. i think he desrves one more chance, wenger should play him and chamakh against stoke as they both are good with their heads and pretty physical. AND CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHERE IS ROSICKY!?
We should buy Neymar and Ganso from Santos.
Sahko, De Rossi and Given.
And the CL is ours!
We need 3 player a cb (Cahill) A Striker Like Hernandez who can actualy finish a chance and gets in good positions, and finally a winger if arshavin and rosisky leave. Id Like to See Hazard Join The Gooners. Hulk Isn’t Good Tbh He’s To Clumsy And Not Consistant. And Phil Jones Is Good But I Prefer Boltons Cahill. And As For GK I’d Like Neur As He Is A Brilliant Player. Schneszy Only Made One Mistake Which Unfortunatley It Was In The Carling Cup Final.
And D are you for Real! Benzema He’s Terrible !
And As For Given No Thanks. But Seriously Sell Bendnter And Keep The Clown Chamkha He Is Terrible He’s Meant To Be A God In The Air When Realy He’s Useless. Bendnters Young He Can Improve. If We Sold Chamkha I’d Be Over The Moon. Fair Enough About almunia squilachi denilson and rosisky. There All Awful Worst Players At Arsenal Our Reserves Are Better.