Parks and Santos and Transfers and Oh My!

By: jg | August 30th, 2011

Did you read that title in the voice of a Southern Belle high on speed? If so, then congratulations, dear reader!

After our soul-crushing defeat to Manchester United last Sunday, it was only natural- and expected- that Arsene Wenger and the Club finally realize that intensive investment in our first-team squad beyond just Park Chu-Young was necessary, and we really needed more reinforcements in our defense. Well, it seems Arsene Wenger is an avid reader of the Arsenal Offside, because since Monday we have been linked to everyone and anyone on the footballing face of the earth, that I actually HAVE TO DIVIDE THIS POST into players we have signed and players we seriously linked with. This.Is.Awesome. Is this how Madrid, United, City, and Chelsea fans feel like? Every possible player that has done a half-decent job for the last 1.5 years, linked to you and overwhelming you with the “exclusive” and “imminent” nature of their transfers. I love it. LOVE IT!

Almost-Certain Signings

Park Chu-Young

South-Korea-Park-Chu-Young+cropped

The South Korean finally made his move to Arsenal official today, with a fee believed to be 3 million with a further 2 million in add-ons. Park joins us from the recently relegated Ligue 2 side, Monaco. He is 26 and captain of the South Korean NT, something that will hopefully add a bit of leadership that is sorely missing in our dressing room right now. While his scoring record isn’t the greatest (indeed, someone like Moussa Sow and Papiss Cisse would have been great for Arsenal), his versatility (he is adept at the wings), his lack of notable injuries, and his technique (good on both feet), coupled with his price means that he could very much be another bargain buy for us. He’s going to do a great job as RvP’s backup this season, and if we’re lucky, PCY’s work rate and discipline will see him turn into Arsenal’s version of Dirk Kuyt, or… Park Ji-Sung.

Andre Santos

andre-santos-brazil-cropped

This one hasn’t been announced or made official yet, but we’ve agreed a fee with Fenerbahce (somewhere around 5-6 million), and we’re close to getting him to agree to a contract, so he’s pretty much an Arsenal player now. LB was a position pretty much every single Arsenal fan was clamoring for investment, but for the longest time, it seemed like Wenger was going to stick with Gibbs and just get another CB and move TV5 if Kieran ever got injured. However, lo and behold, yesterday afternoon the news that we had agreed on a fee for Santos got onto the interwebs and suddenly it was very clear that he was going to sign for us. From what i’ve read, he is good going forward, but suspect in defense. Another thing that I read was that he was good at the back, but suspect going forward. No matter his weaknesses, his pedigree and his experience means that he is a better option at LB than Kieran Fiberglass and Armand Piece o’ Shit (more on him later). The cynic in me says this deal only happened because of Fener’s match-fixing troubles and likely relegation. The romantic in me is joyfully dancing.
A caveat, though: I haven’t seen Santos play for Fener, but I HAVE seen him play for Brazil. He’s a decent player, but he’s only a Brazil regular because their coach, Mano, is an idiot who picks players based on whether he personally likes them or not. Marcelo and Adriano are waay better LB’s than Santos. Still, I think that doesn’t mean he’s not good and that he’s going to be good for us. But calling him the next Roberto Carlos is a little bit off, imo.

Per Mertesacker

Per-Mertesacker_2465885

This one came just this morning, after reports on Twitter that we had agreed a fee with Werder Bremen at around 10 million. Mertesacker is a guy we have been linked to all summer, unlike the above two guys, so his signing isn’t that surprising when you think about it. He’s 26, he has over 140 caps for Werder, and he’s a regular for Germany: Perfect. His experience in every single top competition in Europe and the World means that he will be a big, big asset for us, and add invaluable cover at the back and prevent mishaps and atrocities, like what happened on Sunday. He’s tall, he’s a physical guy, but he’s also surprisingly fast, which means he won’t struggle to settle in our high line, ball-playing defense as opposed to someone else, like Samba. This is the signing that I’m most excited about, because now we have reliable cover for TV5 and, most importantly, this means that Squillaci will never play for us again. Yay!

Serious Rumors

Since Monday, we have been linked to over ONE MILLION… players and counting. Yesterday the big story of was that we had a bid for Mario Gotze (heh), rumored to be around 35 million, turned down by Dortmund. While Gotze (heh) would be probably the best possible replacement for Cesc, Dortmund didn’t really have anything going for them by selling him, and rejecting our bid was a sensible move on their part. Still, every player has his price, and if we were to come tomorrow with a bid of 40 million, well….

Other guys we were linked were the Chelsea Oldies duo of Alex and Yossi Benayoun. Both are on their way out with the introduction of newer, flashier faces, and are actively looking for moves out of Chelsea. Alex was linked to Juventus for the longest time, but yesterday it seemed we had made an approach for him. While his signing would be one I actually was thinking about a couple of weeks back, the fact that we have all but gotten Mertesacker means that all the talk about Alex will remain, well, talk, and that will likely end our pursuit of Gary Cahill as well, especially after the nasty-tasting fallout with them over our supposed bid. Have fun letting Cahill go for free next summer, Bolton!

Back to the Chelsea Oldies, Benayoun has confirmed he will leave but to who, no one knows. We, as well as Liverpool, are interested but at 31, Benayoun would very much be a stop-gap signing for us at this point. Plus, he’s a bit injury prone, and he has played almost exclusively on the wing all career long. So I don’t know how good signing Benayoun would be.

Now, to CM’s. Yann M’Vila was the subject of a 22 million bid by us yesterday, but it was turned down by Rennes, who want 30 million. I can definitely see us come back tomorrow with an improved bid, though. Toulouse’s Moussa Sissoko is another player we have inquired about, and if we fail with M’Vila I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we ended up getting Sissoko. Both are similar players but M’Vila is quickly becoming a French NT regular and by all accounts, a better player.

Also, we’re back for Eden Hazard. Reportedly. Who the hell buys Joe Cole and sells Eden Hazard? Lille, apparently.

And now to the least exciting news, the departures. According to one report, Bendtner will go to either Stoke or Sunderland. According to another report, Bendtner will stay for one more season and Chamakh will leave on loan to either Spain or France, with Granada and PSG interested. Personally, I would like to see the latter happen but it’s likely that the former will happen, especially considering Bendtner has his mind set on leaving. Joel Campbell will most likely go to Lorient, Koscielny’s old club, on loan as his work permit was rejected. He will play a lot there, I reckon. On more positive news, Armand Traore has finally been ~~rid of~~ sold, to QPR, for about 1.2 million. So I heard. My inside source tells me Arsenal were actually the ones to pay QPR for Traore’s transfer, at a fee of 45 dollars (about .12 euros) and a “I’m with stupid” T-shirt. Yay!

A big, big day for us tomorrow. As well as the 3 almost-certain signings in Park, Santos, and Per, we are lining up to sign at least 1 and likely 2 more players tomorrow. Yum. What is certain is that tomorrow’s liveblog of the transfer window will be a very busy, eventful, and fun one, so come by to get in on the action. The transfer window closes at 12 o’clock UK time, which is about 7 PM Eastern. Brenton, Homey (I think), and I will be running the liveblog at different times of the day, so come by and say hi. We will have freshly baked oatmeal cookies and raspberry punch, so don’t miss out. Have a great Tuesday!

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Category: Transfer News and Player Movement, Transfers

« Could Arsenal Afford to Pay a Player £200,000 Per Week? | Home | Liveblog: transfer deadline day »

Kent876

CAM defender
Chidiugbaja

So are these the quality Wenger has been telling us they've been working very hard on all summer? I guess the word quality means 'cheap' in Wenger's dictionary.

For me this is just panick buying, so the fans won't revolt, afterall Park was already at Lille to undergo medicals before we hijacked the deal(meaning he was never in our plans all summer). The reality is that if they were that good, they won't have come so cheap.
Philipo

Great post but ungracious to make fun of players who give their bestbut are simply not good enough
will

Read some cynical things on other blogs about our new players, but I keep my hope... January 21st; that's when we make the big comeback!
Casimir

other than Arshavin, how many January transfer make a big deal? How many worthwhile players aren't cup-tied if you're still in a cup competition?

Summer is when the real transfers happen. January is full of cast offs and malcontents.
will

I was referring to when we next play Man U ;)
The BearMan

Add an assistant coach and defensive coach on the shopping list please!
will

Great news, really hope the Mertesacker deal comes through... also, just a little nitpick, but I read that Park likes to be called 'Ju Young' instead of 'Chu' (it's the regular romanization).
GOONER

we might get Vargas too, which will be an extra-ordinary buy to substitute nasri, he is so fast, and a good kicker of the ball!!
Homey_Mills

Plus JG would drool over that.
JG

Hell yeah.
Homey_Mills

I have a more technical question for the group. I tend to want to include a gazillion links to show where I read all the stuff that I read, when most people have probably already read that stuff anyway. Does anyone read the links I use throughout my blogs? I was just reading JG's blog, and it seems to be just as good, but without all the distractions in it. I dunno. Just curious if I should cut back a bit on all that.
brenton

What jturphy said.
Gigi_man

Usually I dont go to them, but sometimes yes. I dont mind them,
JG

I usually include them when they're from somewhere reputable, like official announcements regarding transfers or team news from the official site. Transfer rumors most people just gather from twitter or Newsnow, so I don't bother finding a half-reputable link for that kind of stuff.
jturphy

I generally do not read the links. I'll trust that you have read them and are giving us a good synopsis of what they say.
Homey_Mills

While I'm excited about what I've heard so far, if we don't find a true replacement for Cesc tomorrow, I'm not going to consider it a good week of transfers.
jturphy

Would it be the worst thing in the world to bring in a 2nd tier player, and let Wilshire grow into the role we know will be his eventually? He's proven he can play in the EPL. It's what we did with Csec, and that turned out pretty well for us until Csec turned his back on us. However, I've always been one to drink the kool-aid of whoever is managing my teams.
Homey_Mills

At this point, I've already ruled out a "1st tier" player. So yeah, a 2nd tier player (Marvin Martin, Arteta, etc) is about all we can hope for.
Bertrand

How the fuck is Martin a '2nd tier' player? The guy scored 3 goals and provided 17 assists.. that is 7 more than Hazard, as well as scoring twice and assisting once on his French national team debut (As a sub).. becoming only the fourth French international to have done that (one being Zidane).

Soo.. I don't see how he is that much worse than Gotze or Hazard. Hazard in particular is a bit overrated I think..
Homey_Mills

I guess I'm an idiot once again then. :-\
Bertrand

How is he a 2nd tier player?

Still not explaining your reasoning here..

You really need to chill the fuck out and not take things so personally. I don't think I even mentioned the word 'idiot' in my post...
TK

Who are the first tier players out there? From what I've seen of Gotze, he hasn't shown so much of that "vision" Cesc had that I'd consider him "1st tier." Unless you mean someone else?
airiRin

Park use number "9".
Not a good way to start your career at Arsenal, I think, with the jinx around the number. :D

I hope he can follow Alan Smith, not recent owner of number 9.
Satan

"On more positive news, Armand Traore has finally been rid of sold, to QPR, for about 1.2 million. So I heard. My inside source tells me Arsenal were actually the ones to pay QPR for Traore’s transfer, at a fee of 45 dollars (about .12 euros) and a “I’m with stupid” T-shirt. Yay!" - Haha Lmfao
Homey_Mills

Yes, that was very clever in a few different ways. Kudos on that one, JG.
brenton

Skysports has Mertesacker's medical done and dusted in London. !Woohoo!
jturphy

"This is the signing that I’m most excited about, because now we have reliable cover for TV5 and, most importantly, this means that Squillaci will never play for us again. Yay!"

Thank you for jinxing us JG.
Gigi_man

what happened?
jturphy

Nothing... yet. But with our injury luck/crack physio team, its not good to tempt the fates.
Gigi_man

Man you scared the bajeez out of me, thx for the good news. Lets not jinx!
Marloneious

Woo! I'm actually pumped for these signings. Wenger's starting to look like he knows what hes doing again! And on a side note, JG, why are you always so upbeat?
Homey_Mills

Someone has to balance me out around here.
Axel

Are players who play in the Europa cup tied for the CL?
Martin

No.
Brad

What do you all think about the rumours we are after Clint Dempsey? Could be a quality pick-up, no?
Gigi_man

eliminated my home country in concacaf...hate him, but i think he is good at what he does
Homey_Mills

I've watched Dempsey a lot for the national team over the years. I like him. It's just that I don't see where he fits. In our formation, he'd have to realistically be in the forward/wing spot. And we're already covered there. So unless he fits in the true central midfield role, which he doesn't, then I don't see the point.
Casimir

Cover for Gervinho during the AFC?
brenton

6.2m for Santos. Don't care how much for Mertesacker. And (like a spoiled child), still waiting for a central midfielder.
Sinead

Mertesacker too slow, vermaelen too short..let's just wait and see. He's a vast improvement on any cb we have, bar tommy v.
Declan

Closes at 11pm UK time lad. Here's praying for hazard and m'vila. Although we never sign anyone I actually want; apart from mertesacker. Come on arsene, make our deadline day.
Gigi_man

Great, great, great.
But as I said in a previous comment, I wont get excited until I see the official site, in order to prevent my heart from breaking (in more than 8 pieces)
Augustus Jonah

Yes, yes, yes I want them all. Don't mind how many as long as we are signing I am happy. More on a serious note note great to see we are strengthening, but did we need an 8-2 thrashing to realize that we need more players. Anyway still waiting to see which midfielder(s) we sign. Really wish we get M'vila.
Johnsmith25

nice one gooners!!!
Arsenal

Good, good, good. Please, as the guy below me said, Marvin Martin and M'Vila.
Would be such a great squad if did that. Imagine what a team we could have. Szczesny
Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Santos
Song, M'Vila
Martin
Walcott, RVP, Gervinho (I know, I know "where is Wilshere?" well that is one of the comforts of having quality players isn't it, you have too many quality options, it's up to Le Boss).
And then we (finally) will have a decent bench with Fabianski, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey (or Frimpong), Wilshere (not sure), Chu-Young, Arshavin. Quality stuff really, however one transfer I wanted to have happen is for us to sign a backup keeper, although not too important, I would like to see one. Criag Gordan anyone?
Satan

Really, Fabianski is too good to be a back up... Obviously Szczesny is our starter, but I would like seeing Fabianski in the starting place somewhere
Bertrand

Fabianski > Gordon

why is everyone clamouring for Gordon?

Other than that, it looks good :) Too bad the Marvin Martin rumors have disappeared..
Casimir

Much much cheaper to just have Fabianski as a back up keeper, but I can see us buying one i a year's time if Szczesny keeps the spot (which he pretty much has locked up at this point), because I'm sure Lukasz has more ambition than to be a bench keeper - unless he's become Kuzczsack that is.
Satan

Lol looks like Kuszczak will be Manchester 3rd/4th this season..
Thenry

very funny
SJGgumby

Hearing a lot of conflicting reviews - is Per very slow, or surprsingly fast? I guess we'll know soon enough, but I'm curious and haven't had the benefit of seeing him in action very much.
Satan

Who cares!! Kos vs Per.. Let the best defender win!!
Martin

I'm hearing the same thing, but there was some statistical analysis earlier that showed that, at least at his top speed, he was about as fast as Wayne Rooney and much faster than John Terry. And I'm pretty sure he did actually catch Messi from behind at the World Cup (Messi had the ball, obviously, but still).

But lots of people insisting that he's slow. I don't actually know, but I suspect he's one of those guys whose long, laconic stride makes him look slower than he actually is. And for a defender, top speed is actually much less important than quick reactions and turning quickly -- maybe he's just slow in those departments.

And I know I'm in the minority in this, but I'm not convinced he's automatically first-choice. Vermaelen and Kos work very well together and I think Wenger really likes Kos a lot. But it doesn't even really matter. Having all 3 healthy at any one time would be a great problem to have, and would allow us to rotate them to keep them healthy and fresh.
Bertrand

His acceleration is slow. That is the most important part.
Homey_Mills

Martin,
Please tell me how cool it would be for us to buy Marvin Martin, and then you can buy your own Arsenal shirt with "Martin" on the back of it. All of your friends would think you're a tool, but then you can explain that it's the last name of a real Arsenal player.
Casimir

Then it'd be like my Polish jersey with .... eh, on second thought, maybe I won't reveal my identity here ;)
Martin

Eh. My friends already think I'm a tool.
brenton

I think he and Kos will be alternating top choices, depending on our opposition.

He's quick in the tackle, and I think you're right, this height makes him look slow. *Warning, Canadian hockey reference approaching: I remember my dad telling me that one NHL coach thought Phil Esposito was slow because it only took him about 8 strides to skate the length of the ice. He traded Big Phil, who then went on to win many Stanley Cups (the equivalent of the FA Cup and the Champions League combined).
TK

Apparently, he doesn't get cards! After our record so far, that'll be lovely. Feeling excited about transfers is great!
SJGgumby

I share your opinion about kos still being the favorite to start when all are healthy, with the slight caveat that i can see Per being picked against somebody the more aerial inclined teams in the Pl.
GC

I'm sure he cannot be that slow, i'm sure the players who get by him are usane bolt like players, walcott and young, but i think he will be alright.
Mickand

Window closes at 11pm not 12.
Homey_Mills

I'm still trying to sort this out. The official Premier League handbook says at the end of Aug. 31. Do you have a link that shows it to be 11pm?
Rico

It usually goes past 11pm and reports of signing still arise.
Rico

I seen it on SkySports News that the transfer window closes at 11pm UK time. Still plenty of time for us to secure some new players and take out the trash.
Come on the Gunners!!
sofreshnsoclean

really hoping for marvin martin and yann m'vila.

Mertesacker is a great addition, as is Santos. Also, I think Park will fair rather well on our squad...and we've done well with strikers from Monaco in the past...........
Zebedee

I heard Arsene was in for a few Rushden & Diamonds cast offs. Knowing that Non League players would have kept the deficit againt Man U to less than 3.