Traore Stays, Merida Goes

By: Martin | August 7th, 2009

Arsenal have apparently turned down Birmingham’s bid to bring in Armand Traore on loan until the end of the season. For now. According to Alex McLeish, Wenger has said he won’t make a decision on Traore until the end of the transfer window in August. I have to think that this may have something to do with Nasri’s injury and Rosicky’s set-back, which leaves us very thin on the left wing. While Traore’s preferred position is left-back, he can play left wing, and could provide valuable cover there. As I said recently, Traore has been very impressive in the preseason friendlies, and is making his case for a spot in the first team. But if Nasri and Rosicky make good progress in their respective recoveries and it looks like they’ll be back and ready to play by early to mid-September, I think Wenger would revisit the idea of sending Traore off on loan to get some first-team game action.

Wenger has, however, agreed to send Fran Merida out on loan for the season to Levante. Levante plays in the Spanish Segunda Division. It would be better if he was able to play at a higher level, but he’ll still got some valuable seasoning in Spain. Frankly, I’m not sure he’s really Arsenal-quality anyway, so it may just serve as a year to develop his skills and showcase his game for a possible sale next summer. Regardless, he wasn’t going to get into our first-team, and this was probably the best thing for all parties involved.

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Category: Armand Traore, Arsenal News, Fran Merida, Transfer News and Player Movement

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Gigi

Right on Evaldo, check out my comment on the previous blog, I agree, we shall not go there thinking it's done,

As per Merida, the little I saw maybe was for a smaller team but of the Primera Division, no? The Segunda is really a lower level, just IMO.
third eye

Martin:

--->"Frankly, I’m not sure he’s really Arsenal-quality anyway,(...)"

--->"Regardless, he wasn’t going to get into our first-team, and this was probably the best thing for all parties involved."

--->Then, these must be the reasons why Barcelona did not tried to take him back? To be considered as the new "Fabregas" was a little too early don't you think? I guess he could not live up to his very high expectations. I saw him play during the friendly against Ranger, he could dribble his way through narrow situation, but did not provide any "Fabresque" passes.

--->I'd prefer Landsbury over him. They play the same way. However, Wenger has a unprecedented trust toward the kid and if he kept Diaby and Denilson, I wonder why he would not do the same with Merida who clearly has more talent than both.
evaldo

i think the celtic draw is a good one for arsenal. as long as they don't go in there with the hull attitude: thinking the other team will roll over and die just because they are arsenal they should advance with relative ease.