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Arsenal and Arsenal Station Return!

By on July 19, 2009

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That’s right… Arsenal Station is back for the new campaign. And so are Arsenal having drawn in their annual preseason opener with Barnet, 2-2. The highlights of the match were Barazite’s class curler and Rosicky’s return, which can be seen below and also in our new Vodpod widget in the right column that will archive all highlights and videos for the entire season. Of course, the biggest news though is that Adebayor has completed his move to Manchester City for a reported 25m pounds, though as of Sunday afternoon and despite the widespread media coverage, it is yet to appear on Arsenal.com.

What everyone wants to know now is will the Boss use the money. He has already come out and said that replacing Adebayor is not an imperative. Rumours ranging from Klaas Jan Huntelaar to Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh appear to be just that as both clubs have reported no official contact from Arsenal. Apparently, Madrid have reached an agreement with Stuttgart, but the player and his agent have not. The Daily Mail claims the fee agreed by Madrid is 17m pounds. I’ve always thought that Huntelaar was the type of player we were missing up front, central and direct with only goals on his mind.

However, like the Boss, I don’t think that Adebayor needs to be replaced and that the money would be far better spent on a defensive midfielder. The problem here is that details over the payment schedule have not surfaced. It would seem likely that Arsenal would have pushed for, at least, a large percentage of the transfer fee, if not all of it, up front rather than spread out over a few years, as has become common. If that is not the case, it becomes even more unlikely that Wenger makes any serious push for a central midfielder. Though, with a deeper central defense following the arrival of Thomas Vermaelen, giving Kolo Toure a look there may become an option Wenger is willing to take a more serious look at should Song’s development not continue apace.

As for Adebayor… good riddance. 25m for him is a steal for Arsenal. He has serious attitude problems, cannot seem to stay onsides, and, generally, is a very frustrating player. He has all the potential in the world, but he just can’t seem to concentrate solely on the football. Who knows, maybe now that he’s gotten the big payday he’s obviously been looking for, even though Arsenal renegotiated a huge pay rise for him after his fluke season, he may be able to worry about what happens on the pitch more than what happens off of it. Though, I cannot see him being happy as a part-time starter and his streaky nature almost guarantees he will be given City’s options up front.

If Wenger spends the money on a defensive midfielder, this will easily turn out to be a far better and more significant deal for Arsenal than Manchester City. The first team leave for Austria early this week and face SC Columbia on Tuesday at 17:30 while a Reserve XI will face Lincoln City on Monday evening.

Barnet v Arsenal – 18 July 2009 (Highlights & Interviews)

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.2991815&w=425&h=350&fv=]

more about “Barnet v Arsenal 18 July 2009 “, posted with vodpod

6 Comments

  1. SweetLeft

    July 19, 2009 at 10:47 am

    Now lets see, to replace Adebayor, Arsenal needs:
    – A player experienced in EPL, Europe and the International Scene
    – Mid-twenties would be great, not too young, not too old
    – Able to play Wengerball
    – Good with his head, great control, fast, powerful
    – Able to pull defenders towards him and off his team-mates
    – Able to get back and help the defence at corners (ours can’t head the ball)
    – An entertainer, eloquent and articulate
    – A goal every two games, 25 per year average in last two seasons
    But wait, that sounds like Ade!

    Could we buy him back? No, can’t afford him now. Arsenal can’t stretch to 20 million plus for a striker.

    Good riddance YOU say. Frankly, I don’t agree.

    Reply

    • lawro

      July 19, 2009 at 2:36 pm

      you is the one of the most sensible gooner blogs for a long time ,good riddance had we got 35to40m all of my fellow gooners who wanted ade to go say 25m is a good deal for Ade I disagree 25m for ADE if he was sold to Ac milan now we have to face him for two games the least ,he will score against arsenal hope its not the winner selling to citeh for 25m is joke business image everton holding out for 30m for lescott ,25m in this transfer climate even wenger is saying he dont know if he got enough with 35m we could of got huntelaar 17m a cdm and Hangeland just for Ade now we are looking at chamakh and martins I dont wenger knows all I know is we could or should of got more from citeh so I am gutted

      Reply

      • ArsenalStation

        July 19, 2009 at 2:49 pm

        Thank you, Lawro. However, I understand you’re feelings about Adebayor’s fee. But we need to realize that the situation is different in England than it is in Spain, especially this summer. Let’s also remember that Adebayor made his feelings known on Football Focus at the end of the season, which immediately dropped his transfer market value as City knew we were then almost forced to sell him since his relationship with the supporters had deteriorated beyond repair and he wanted out. Thanks for your comment.

        Reply

  2. ArsenalStation

    July 19, 2009 at 11:00 am

    Of course, you are starting from the premise that Adebayor NEEDS to be replaced. Bendtner scored one goal less than Adebayor last season despite starting less matches. Not to mention, the emergence of Carlos Vela and return of Eduardo. As for your points, Adebayor rarely defended corners well (or at all) despite his height, he also seemed to be allergic to the box choosing instead to wander high and wide, his first touch left much to be desired, and I don’t consider someone who refers to themself in the third person and starts every sentence with “Of course, of course…” as eloquent and articulate. Also, to throw out an “average from two seasons, one of which included his fluke season is highly misleading. And none of this even mentions his attitude and its effect on the rest of the team.

    Reply

  3. SweetLeft

    July 19, 2009 at 11:22 am

    No one NEEDS to be replaced. Arsenal can field four elevens from the current squad. Question is, do we want to win anything? In which case, we need to add, not lose, players of Ade’s capability.

    Ade played 32 games in all comps 2008/9. Scored 20 goals.
    Nick played 38 on same basis. Scored 18. Check the stats.
    Peter Crouch now is Nick Bendtner in five years. Not an Arsenal player.

    Carlos just isn’t ready. He’s a good prospect though. Eduardo is superb. Just imagine how good he’d be playing off Ade. We didn’t get to see that because of the leg break.

    He defended nearly every corner. I have all f last season’s matches on video. His defence was average….certainly a mile better than Carlos or DuDu wil achieve. Much better than JD20’s missed header against Barnet yesterday.

    He comes from Togo. English isn’t his first tongue. Give him a little credit. He’s very eloquent in the circumstances. Have you ever done a tv interview. It’s not easy even in your mother tongue.

    Why was it a fluke season. Wouldn’t last year have been as good with better support from mid-field where we struggled without Cesc and Hleb? I think he’ll score 25 for City this season.

    His effect on the team. Check out the goals RVP scored in 2008/9 (on Arsenal.com). See how many featured Ade.

    His attitude. As good as most. The attitude of many Arsenal fans STANK. I think with Ade gone, you can expect the boanheads in our fan base to pick on Bendy next. They’ve already started in fact if you’ve been to a game recently.

    Off to enjoy the Open. Enjoy your Sunday.

    Reply

  4. ArsenalStation

    July 19, 2009 at 11:50 am

    1. I think you highly underestimate Bendtner. And you are right about the way supporters treat him… I, for one, don’t understand it.
    2. Almost half of his appearances were as a substitute. I would venture to say that Adebayor played a significant more amount of minutes than Bendtner.
    3. I don’t know how you’re adding up those numbers but Ade had 10 league goals and 6 in the CL. Bendtner had 9 in the league and 2 in each of the FA Cup, Carling Cup, and Champions League.
    4. You’re right in that he could score 25 for City if he was their #1 striker like he has been at Arsenal for the last two years. But I don’t see him staying in the lineup through scoring droughts which he had often at Arsenal. Especially with Santa Cruz or Tevez on the bench.
    5. The one thing I think you have wrong is his attitude. The fact is he wanted to leave last summer and no one, rightly as it turned out, believed him when he said he didn’t. When things got tough for him, he tuned out rather than stepping it up a notch. He created the situation with the fans himself and I think he knew all season that he was going to leave, he certainly played like it for most of the season. There’s no room at Arsenal for someone who will not give their all for the club no matter how talented they are.

    Enjoy the Open!

    Reply

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