Santi Cazorla and Arsenal

[amber cabs]

Looks like we will have missed out on him two seasons in a row as it looks certain he will join Arsenal today.
We were linked with him last year but not this year. Would he have even come to us if we had been interested?
Joe allen (whom I do rate) for £15m or Santi for €18m?

We are missing out big time.

I think it's Modos sig who says we need a mata etc etc type player. Well we are missing out on a cracking one here who would have been affordable for us.

He will be class at Arsenal, who are having a cracking summer in the transfer side of things in my opinion. They will go very close next season RVP or no RVP. Could have probably done with some cover in the full back area though

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I'd take Allen. A midfield of Allen/Gerrard/Lucas would be excellent and ensure we can be very competitive in the middle.

Cazorla is a good player - I do rate him. He's not such a creative force like most of the players in Modo's list are.

As for Arsenal ... FBs are weak. Bar Vermalaen - their CBs are average and mistake prone. They would be relying on Giroud and Podolski (which one will they get? Bayern's or cologne's?) for 30+ goals - and considering Wenger plays the 4-5-1, I don't know how they'll work out. Arsenal will fight for 4th with Spurs at best.

 

[Modo]

Cazorla is an out an out winger and doesn't belong in my list. The players I've listed are are comfortable playing behind the striker and as wing forwards. I think it applies to everyone there except Gourcuff, Modric and Hamsik.

Also LTW, we need to look beyond the starting line up. Even if we do sign Allen and Dempsey, losing Suarez for a couple of games would decimate us incredibly.
We need another creative force on the wing.
If we're looking to sign someone on the cheap I'd look to Ryad Boudabouz.

 

[Glen C]

Carzola seems alright but not great. I don't think he will improve arsenal that much. I don't think Rhad Boudabouz will be cheap.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Also LTW, we need to look beyond the starting line up. Even if we do sign Allen and Dempsey, losing Suarez for a couple of games would decimate us incredibly.
We need another creative force on the wing.
If we're looking to sign someone on the cheap I'd look to Ryad Boudabouz.

Yes, you're very negative and your heart is set on Boudabouz. What else is new?

 

[Molbystwin]

i would take cazorla over allen in a heartbeat..... we missed out last summer tho not this, he was never going to go to a team low in decline.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

i would take cazorla over allen in a heartbeat..... we missed out last summer tho not this, he was never going to go to a team low in decline.

So he's going to Arsenal why?

 

[Hansern]

Paying 16 mill for a 28 year old isnt what Wenger usually do.

 

[amber cabs]

Cazorla can play in behind the striker and he did that quite a bit for Villareal, notably when they tore Arsenal apart in the Champions league a few years back. For Glen who says he is "alright"?! Just watch him this year for Arsenal. He is a fantastic player who has been part of the Spain squad for the last six years. If he didn't have the likes of Iniesta/Silva/mata etc ahead of him at Spain and had played for more fashionable clubs than Vilareal and Malaga everybody would be raving about him.

I agree Molby that we missed out on him last year though

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Cazorla can play in behind the striker and he did that quite a bit for Villareal, notably when they tore Arsenal apart in the Champions league a few years back. For Glen who says he is "alright"?! Just watch him this year for Arsenal. He is a fantastic player who has been part of the Spain squad for the last six years. If he didn't have the likes of Iniesta/Silva/mata etc ahead of him at Spain and had played for more fashionable clubs than Vilareal and Malaga everybody would be raving about him

He rarely plays behind the striker - and I doubt he'll do it for Arsenal, who will probably play Ramsey, Rocsiky or Sahin (if they get him) there. He'll be on the left or right ...

You're bigging him up a lot here - if he was that good, one of Spain's top 4 would have bought him. He's a good, productive player who scores 5-9 goals a year and creates a good chunk of opportunities, but let's not act as if they've got an Iniesta etc ...

 

[King Binny]

It is evident that top 4 in Spain isn't the same as top 4 in England - prestige, consistency (the likes of Sevilla, At. Madrid and even Osasuna have finished in top 4 over the past 5 seasons) and financial wise. Besides, he was in a top 4 team the season before he left for Malaga. Meanwhile the likes of Valencia wouldn't be able to afford him.

1 thing that can work in Arsenal's favour is the spreading out of the source of goals. Instead of being dependent on 1 main player, they'd have the likes of Podolski, Giroud and Cazorla, averaging fees of £12-14m and scoring almost 50 league goals amongst them last season. Of cos things are different in the Premier League but there's also the team they were in and goals they created that should be taken into consideration. If they do bring in Sahin, that'll be icing on cake for the job done this transfer window.

 

[King Binny]

Paying 16 mill for a 28 year old isnt what Wenger usually do.

He did that with Arshavin at a similar age in 2009.

 

[Hansern]

Yeah I know mate. 🙂

What will this mean for the development of Oxlade? Or does it mean Theo is off? I'm guessing the latter.
Dont think it will make Arsenal fantastic, but its a good signing.

The Sahin deal is apperantly very far from done. Played last night for Real.

 

[Oncy]

Arsenal are pulling together a really good team now. Its like Wenger has finally twigged he needs to suplement the kids.
Sahin (if)
Podolski
Cazorla
Van Persie
Arshavin
Walcott
Rosicky
Oxlade
Arteta

Thats some fucking options.
In those positions we have
Suarez
Carroll
Borini
Downing
Gerrard
Bellamy

 

[Rafiagra]

The one thing with Allen is that he's integral to Rodger's style of play. He's a poor man's Xavi, but that's hardly a criticism.

Ive a feeling we're going to bag David Villa. A front 3 of him, Suarez and Borini is pretty tasty.

 

[Skullflower]

The one thing with Allen is that he's integral to Rodger's style of play. He's a poor man's Xavi, but that's hardly a criticism.

Ive a feeling we're going to bag David Villa. A front 3 of him, Suarez and Borini is pretty tasty.

you're delusional.

 

[keniget]

Cazorla is not an out an out winger. He has played in the middle as the creative fulcrum. He is very good.

 

[mr_moo]

As it's already been said, arsene is creating a very decent squad together. If for somehow, RVP had a change of heart and stayed, they'd have a very strong first XI and bench next season. Top 4 is going to be difficult this season, but not impossible!

 

[Rafiagra]

you're delusional.

Haha. It helps. Messi next.

 

[Hansern]

They still look weak in defence and need a new GK

 

[Oncy]

They still look weak in defence and need a new GK

They have Schzezny. Hes a good keeper.
And their defensive problems are all when their first team are injured
Sagna
Vermaelen
Koscielny
Gibbs

is fine.
Its the scopers they have after that that suck balls.

 

[the count]

They have Schzezny. Hes a good keeper.
And their defensive problems are all when their first team are injured
Sagna
Vermaelen
Koscielny
Gibbs

is fine.
Its the scopers they have after that that suck balls.

Gibbs is not a good left back.
Plus two of the offensive players you listed are more than likely offski.
Still better than us at the moment though.

 

[Oncy]

Hes better than Enrique.

 

[the count]

Hes better than Enrique.

Is that praise or an insult?

 

[Hansern]

Scheznznznzy is not a good keeper

Gibbs is not good

Sagna used to be good

 

[keniget]

That hasn't stopped them from getting CL so far.

 

[Hansern]

Indeed. But if someone else doesnt step up and score the 30 goals RVP provided then this could be that season.

But is CL really the correct way of measuring success? Isnt that trophies? Which they havent won for 7 years.

 

[hmmmmm1]

They still look weak in defence and need a new GK

It is amusing how easily you knock our rivals but at same time talk up our at chances, ignoring the glaring problems we have.

The other day you was talking about how weak united were in midfield. They have Scholes who is light years ahead of what we have

 

[Oncy]

Scheznznznzy is not a good keeper

Gibbs is not good

Sagna used to be good

Theyre all fine.

 

[peterhague]

Indeed. But if someone else doesnt step up and score the 30 goals RVP provided then this could be that season.

But is CL really the correct way of measuring success? Isnt that trophies? Which they havent won for 7 years.

Trophies? They've really got no right to be winning the title or CL, seeing that over the last 10 years they've been the 4th lowest spenders of the 20 teams in last year's PL.