Quick News Roundup – Walcott, van Persie, etc.

I hope Walcott's injury is not one of those "minor injuries" that keeps him out for the whole season.  Sorry to be the one to bring that up.

Wow, just wow.

Walcott, Koscielny, and Gervinho out for tomorrow's match. I wonder if there will ever be an Arsenal match where we come out unscathed.

Yeah, and the backline will be interesting -- Vermaelen, Koscielny, Djourou, Squillaci, and apparently Miquel all out injured. Have to think that means Song pairs Mertesacker at the back, with Frimpong starting in midfield.

First, my comments on the match, which I will keep brief.  It was the best Arsenal performance I can remember seeing in--really--several months if not a year or two.  The liner-notes of the positives speak more than I could in a deep tactical analysis:

-The match showed some evidence of vindication for everyone who has stuck to the line that Arsenal only need a center-half to run a game.
-The Song, Ramsey, and Arteta midfield was simply outstanding.  Not only did they dictate the game, but they did so from start to finish.  I would have loved to have seen Arteta drafted into the team a year or two ago, so thoroughly did he fit into the tactical scheme.
-Walcott has never, ever looked better, and finally looks like the star we've always hoped he would be.  If his greatest weakness is the lack of a final ball, or even that he cannot intelligently read the game, he thoroughly made fools out of his critics.  The one-touch pass on the counterattack to RvP following his strike partner's second goal was just terrific.

This segues perfectly into my first point on the current news:

It is absolutely key that Walcott stays healthy.  I am thoroughly relieved that the scans show only a minor injury.  But a sharp pain in the knee?  What was the word Wenger used for it--"very unusual," or something to that effect?  Sounds like nothing to mess around with to me.  Totally agree with Homey: more than anything, I am biting my nails at this moment about the prospect that Walcott could make an appearance on Wednesday.

Other players might not stay as healthy as Walcott might.  van Persie getting hurt is a "when," not an "if," as several others have astutely pointed out.  And if I might play a bit of devil's advocate regarding the "news" about contract negotiations--would some of us fans not be relatively satisfied, all things considered, to see van Persie leave with a hefty transfer fee, to the tune of 20-30 million?

At the moment, it's difficult to think about--with Fabregas and Nasri already gone, he is now, more clearly than ever, the best player on the team.  You can even argue incredible things about him--like he is twice the player anyone else in the Arsenal shirt is--and you could make a pretty solid argument.

On the other hand, he misses, what, half of every season?  News about the contract negotiations, such as those that we are hearing now, suggests that some big teams with big money are sniffing around for him.  If that's the case, how bad would it be if Robin van Persie, aged 30 this summer, leaves the team, with an enormous legacy, in exchange for big money and a great deal of perennial injury risk (come to think of it, that sounds like precisely what Arsene Wenger would do)?  The team could use that money to go out and buy a package of players including the likes of Arteta and Mertesacker to shore up the squad in general.  Or, he stays with the team, and those who disagree with me are relieved, and he goes on to be our leading goalscorer once again.  Sounds like a win-win to me.

I would hate to lose RVP, sure enough he's injury prone however he can sort of make up for that with the amount of goals he can produce. If he was to leave I would have to agree with Homey and state that Wenger will not invest the entire sum into another world class goal scorer and I feel it would start a mass exodus at the club. Song, Sagna, Walcott, Sczc and Wilshere are just a few names that will most likely head for greater prospects as Arsenal cannot be regarded as a top team and will surely drop down the table; resulting in no CL football, no big signings and no cash injections.
Sorry for the negativity.

A couple of thoughts on the concept of "cashing in on RvP": First, it would send yet another bad message to fans and players that we're a selling team, and we will never keep our best players.  That wouldn't bode well for Walcott, Wilshere, Song, etc.
Second, we've consistently shown that despite selling players for big profits, that money will not be fully re-invested in the squad, and we'll often end up worse.
Third, at this point, I don't think we need more depth.  I think we need more world class quality.  So if we sell RvP and bring in another "package," I don't see how we'd be better.  Already, Benayoun, Santos, and Park are mostly on the bench.  I don't think we need more warm bodies.  I think if we ever had to sell RvP, we should do what Athletico Madrid did.  They sold Aguero, but then bought in a serious butt-kicker (Falcao) for big bucks.  Surely we could at least do what Athletico Madrid can do, right?

Agreed. I wish Chamakh and Park were world class, but I can't quite get myself to really believe that. I wish we would spend the money on players like Cavani. What a player, I tell you.
But what I see happening now, more than a few weeks ago, is that Wenger won't sign any real quality midfielder like we want in the January window. Why? Because Wilshere will be like a new signing in the following month of February...and you can only guess what's going to happen after that. Our only hope now is that Ramsey becomes one helluva CAM in the mean time. Oh to be a gooner sometimes...

Another thought upon perusing others' comments: it can't be harmful to have a player who is playing in a "contract year," could it?

What international manager do you loathe most? FABIO CAPELLO.

Was there some recent news, or is this Wilshere related?

Wilshere related. So frustrating and it irritates me to no end when I see him at an Arsenal match in the stands evaluating our players. I don't like his coaching style, demeanor, or his FACE!

Unless Arsenal recruit players as talented as Nasri or Fabregas I don't see RVP resigning. We were bidding for Hazard, Mata, Mvila and a few others and all we got were the leftovers at the very end of the trading deadline. Now that we have signed players in quantity but not necessarly quality I don't think Arsenal will invest anytime soon. I think we can say adios to the CL next season...

Not sure why these "contracts" are even a big deal?  Nobody seems to be bound by them.  I believe Cesc was under "contract" with us for a few more years but it means nothing when the player "demands" a move.  Even if you're under contract, just make a big stink about how unhappy you are and the team will move you, contract or not.   

While I agree with you to an extent, the other side of the coin is that if RvP re-signs in the next year, it will be a statement that he's happy at Arsenal, and wants to continue for a few years.  Plus, at his age, we don't need him for 5+ years or anything.  Just another few would be wonderful.  So one new contract extension would pretty much satisfy the fans that we'll keep him for the duration of his prime years.

I think you're dead on about RvP's contract situation. The "I'm too busy" excuse is complete bullcrap -- always has been, always will be. It's not like he and Wenger actually sit down in a room and negotiate. RvP tells his agent, "I want to re-sign, but I want at least 115k (or whatever) a week." The agent then goes and sits down with Gazidis or someone else from the front office and they negotiate. And they are not too busy, because this is their job.

But from his point of view, it makes sense. Arsenal are in a precarious place at the moment -- it looks very possible that we will drop out of the Champions League next season, and Wenger (whom by all accounts RvP has a very good relationship with) may be out as well. There would seem to be no big advantage to RvP not waiting to see (a) how the team does this year; (b) who Arsenal's manager is next season; and (c) what Arsenal does to strengthen the team.

That being said, I'm with you in being probably stupidly, naively optimistic that RvP will re-sign with Arsenal before the start of next season.

wow..that bad? I am super naive then, but I dont want o e sad...for once I will turn my head, look away and just enjoy whenever we win.
Man, really that bad?

You agree with my take on the "I'm too busy" excuse because it's essentially the same thing you wrote about another player on these same pages a while back.  You're not going to sue me for plagiarism, are you?  I just try to learn from the best, after all. 

I doubt I was the first one to make that point. And, despite many people telling me I was being a Chicken Little and that Nasri would definitely re-sign in the summer, I was, it turns out, correct about that (which is pretty rare).

I suspect what could drive RVP away, is not qualifying for Europe.  So remaining as the optimistic person, I would like to point out that Everton looked good against Man City.  If they can take care of Liverpool at home then simply need to beat Spuds to be tied on points with Liverpool and one up on Spuds (who would have a game in hand).  I am not worried about Newcastle or Stoke etc. finishing top 4.  So catching Spuds and possibly Reds this quickly and getting a quality road win would really put us in a better place than most could imagine just over a week ago. 

Go Gunners!

Those things are still a lot to ask for at this point, although I admire the optimism.  I don't think we'll catch Liverpool that quickly, but I feel decent about our chances of catching them in the long run.

Not to mention our high-level groupo of commenters, with their links and stuff, really good vibes!

Nice round-up, many thanks!
Hey actually I was wondering about our Carling cup rivals next round, many thanks for that as well (I missed it in the official site, though, silly me).

On subject about RvP, it still worries me, I think him, Walcott, Song, maybe even Wojo, (and I dont mention Tv5 cause hes been out too much) are all just being kind of observers of the moves and progression, I just hope AW knows that, because it is a reality, and try not to do things too much for the future as for now, and keep our best players with some silverware.

Off subject, I wanted to really thank you guys for the work done. When I first ran into the Arsenal offside, there was still Martin of course, and also Travis, I remember this accurately because I was desperate looking on new signings since Titi had just left, and I found out how accurate the info managed here was, I found a relief, people who were also worried as me, and some that lifted my spirit with good thoughts and very much precise predictions on our beloved team.

Today, it still is the same reason why I keep reading you guys. I am in the need of knowing something (the Carling cup and RvP contracts examples) and I always find it easily here, not to mention to find both solidarity and hope.

Keep it up.

(tears)

:P

oh and today, some years after desperately seeking for some marquee signings...finally I got 9 in a row with some marquees as Per and Garevinho and Arteta (maybe Arteta only in my book haha)

With regards to RvP, I think common sense is in place at this point in time. Why would he start negotiating talks if this Arsenal team turns out to be utterly shit and can't compete? The man is 29, and the next major contract would be his last. You have got to give him credit for being the least speculative as possible. I remember reading a story that he turned down the chance to play for Mourinho at Inter. The latter bought Eto'o and that team went on to clinch the treble.

Let's not all be doom and gloom about this; nothing out of the ordinary is taking happen. Just crappy journalists that would do anything to sell a story.

RvP not going anywhere, the guy wouldn't see the pitch in Manchester :)

I don't blame him if RVP is doing the wait and see what Arsenal does. We still need to shed some dead weight and strengthen in areas. The team we have at the moment doesn't come close to a side that's capable of winning the league. I would kill Arsenal if he left in my opinion. We still need to strengthen in areas, however I believe and hope he will stay. 
Also what's Man City's deal with Arsenal players? I hate Mancini with a passion. Also he still believes he needs more players. I mean come on! Man City will soon need to reserve an entire side of their stadium for their subs and reserve players. If Mancini can't do it with the list of world class players at the moment then am afraid he will never do it. 
I really can't wait until the financial fair play systems come into play and see how the little Italian rat tries to get by with the amount spent on wages and the team size.

I remember seeing an interview last week after Citys game where Mancini was griping about his current lack of options due to injury and how he really needed "a few more players".  I almost spit on my tv screen in disgust, does the guy realize how good he has it there froma budget perspective!!?? 

It would kill Arsenal if he left* oopp

Well I've got to agree... We make most of our sales to them... I wouldn't want our selling line shut. It'd defenitely kill us.

And I find it a little unfair what people are saying about RvP. Mebbe the team's just come out of a confidence crisis and mebbe the captain/team needs to put things into order before they actually sit for contracts.

I remember reading an excerpt from an interview that RvP did somewhere last year where he said that he never wants to leave Arsenal. His loyalties seem much more stronger than those of homesick Fabregas or Na$ri.

Yep, I clearly remember that, and after that regretting my gift from my assistants (a Fabregas shirt...)
I believed him when he said so, but I dont completely think that he will be unable to think about leabing after I saw his face in that8 -2 when replaced, and taht look he gave to Gervinhi (i dont remember the game) when he didnt pass the ball (Gervinhoi, imo being scanned by RvP and other seniors)

I am also quite optimistic for RvP. However, I suspect he will need some assurance from the manager that the club is looking to spend some money on some signings in January or next summer. He is almost over the hill now, so I'm sure he will be looking to ensure he wins a trophy in his career.

Yes, I'm certainly more optimistic about it than I was about those others.  But I thought it was worth writing about to some extent anyway.