Arsenal manager to sign a Russian or two this summer?
by stresster on June 23rd, 2008
| 226 words |
Arsene Wenger might be taking a leaf out of Fagin’s book this summer. The Charles Dickens character sings about ‘picking a pocket or two’ in the musical version of Oliver Twist and it appears that the Frenchman is looking to ’sign a Russian or two’ after watching them at Euro 2008.
But which Russians, if any, will be playing for Arsenal this summer? While there can’t be a single Gooner who doesn’t want Andrei Arshavin playing at the Emirates next season, this signing might be a bridge too far, there are plenty of others in the team who could bring something to the table. Sporting Life reports that Wenger has enjoyed this shop window opportunity.
“The eye is always looking at who can strengthen Arsenal,” Wenger said in the Daily Express.
“You always think, ‘could this player play for your team?’ or perhaps there is a good player you didn’t know.
“Mainly I would say that you discovered only Russian players at this tournament because you see them playing less. All the others you know.”
In addition to Arshavin, the players who have stood out include Yuri Zhirkov, the roving left wing-back, and Roman Pavlyuchenko, the Spartak Moscow striker who has scored three goals at Euro 2008. Will Wenger be gunning for one of these players, rather than chase their star man who is reportedly joining Barcelona ahead of next season?
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Tagged Under: Arsenal FC, arshavin, barcelona, moscow, wenger
Andy - June 23rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
pavlyuchenko looks like a great signing does certainly have an eye for goal but of course id rather prefer arshavin but either one of dem will do arsenal a world of good
aNaKiN99 - June 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
doesnt look like arshavin wants to play in the epl… though if he comes to the emirates then we wont miss ade one bit…
i guess Pavlyuchenko or zirkhov wud be great signings…. but the sad thing is wenger doesnt look like moving for any player cos he aint creatin any flutter except for the nasri deal…. and i dont think he’ll sign any major star this summer… he’ll try n manage with the strike force which he has… which’ll be awefully toothless if ade leaves.. cos fitness of dudu n RVP is circumspect n we cant yet expect great things from bendtner n vela… maybe wenger’ll go 4 the cheaper option of fielding reserves dutch international nacer barazite… but it remains to be seen as to how good he wud come in the premiership….
afc - June 23rd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
klondik and arshavin would be good
l.a. gooner - June 23rd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
zhirkov looked excellent throughout the tournament….however, would wenger bench him behind gael?
daymee - June 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Wenger will not sign Arshavin. He would have gone in for him before the Euros if he was interested. There’s no other manager in England who has the level of data and info Wenger has on players. Listen to his quote: “Mainly I would say that you discovered only Russian players at this tournament because you SEE them playing LESS. All the others you know”….
What this means is the media feed you with “players in Spain, Italy, England.. but do the press give a headline to a player in the Russian League? (i.e Zenit St Petersburg). NO!
Wenger has scouts all over the world. If Arshavin was 23 or 24 Wenger will have looked at him. The question is did Wenger hear of him when he was younger? at 22 or 24? I think he did. But Wenger operates with statistics. I totally trust his judgement on players. His decisions on players is spot on but what the press have you believe is different. Arshavin’s ability is not new to Wenger but is now everyone’s song. I trust Wenger to unleash another suprise this summer like he did with Eduardo and Sagna. >Watch this space<
jeff - June 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Arsenal are geo techs of football, that is, they play football in a series of geometric shapes TRIANGLES, SQUARES, geared towards perfect conditions that suitably shape our players into STARS, and run CIRCLES around opposition. But we lack in certain domains such as height and the physical.
As a general rule we’ll assume that height and stature determines how physical or how technical the team is. So it is unsurprising that Arsenal are technically gifted. It follows that these players are
All under SIX FOOT…
NASRI, FAB, HELB, ROSICKY, WALCOTT, RAMSEY, EBOUE, SAGNA, CLICHY, EDUARDO, VELA
Just about SIX FOOT…
KOLO, VP, GALLAS, SONG
One of the tallest in the squad ADE, who has been a mixture of strength of goals could be on his way out. One of our propositions is to replace him with VILLA another below 6. On the other hand I rate VILLA more than ADE.
Wenger has motioned that we do not need defensive cover.
Take this for example, the smaller the goal keeper is, the more skill they must possess to stand out. I believe the rule generally follows especially for defensive players who not only have to deal with ground work but also arial breeches. So since Wenger is not buying defensively, expect arsenal to concede as many as our last outing.
But it seems so far (with the signings Nasri, Ramsey and current transfer talk) that Wenger believes that our problems last year were that we were not technical enough.
The buying of technically gifted players is causing an imbalance to the squad. All to the good if it ever works, but the disadvantages when this geo tech football is limited by pitch conditions, weather, and counter geo football are phenomenal - as we have witnessed time and time again.
There well be certain teams that will be suited in stifling of style of play. In Wengers defense he will state that the team tactics are promoting negative football. Whilst some teams play to draw one things for sure. No team plays to lose.
geoffreid - June 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 pm
forget signing anybody well known- we can barely compete with newcastle in trans/market - because all gooners are being duped by wegner and the board - fire them all and bring in the russians - at least we will have money to buy top class players which we deserve.
Anonymous - June 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 pm
get rid of the arsenal board!
we need a billionaire to compete with manure & chavski.
gcgooner - June 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
to geoffreid & anonymous. dont be glory hunters looking to buy the premiership. or are you both secret closet chavs?? coment.
Bob_Bobson - June 24th, 2008 at 12:22 am
FFS, don’t ecven entertain the thought of losing Wenger just to cash in on Russian money
Arsene has set Arsenal up for the future with Ashburton Grove, Highbury flats coming to fruition soon (not to mention the young talent)
I can’t imagine any other manager I’d have in his place, possible exception Gus Hiddink (but Roman wouldn’t let him go to us surely)
Anonymous - June 29th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
he should come to celtic.hail hail