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Wenger Confirms He’s Looking To Buy ‘A New Patrick Vieira’

By mac14 on September 15, 2014

Some interesting quotes coming out of France from Arsene Wenger with the boss admitting he still needs to sign a Patrick Vieira-type player to add a physical presence in the middle of the park.

All summer fans were crying out for Arsene to sign a dominant midfielder. Someone who could compliment the attacking instincts of the likes of Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, and Mesut Ozil, and add a bit of steel to the side.

Sami Khedira and Morgan Schneiderlin were linked early on in the summer but William Carvalho emerged as the main target during the closing weeks of the transfer window and we were believed to have seen at least one bid worth in the region of £20m rejected, with Sporting Lisbon holding out for nearer £24m.

In the end, despite lengthy talks, we could get a deal agreed with reports suggesting that an investment company who owns 40% of Carvalho’s economic rights complicated the negotiations.

Arsene was, and continues to be, lambasted for not signing a defensive midfielder this summer so it’s with some frustration to hear him admit we need to add someone like Vieira or Petit to the team.

Speaking to Bein Sport in an exclusive interview that was aired yesterday, Wenger said:

“I’m happy with the signings but we still need a physical presence with prodigious ability like Vieira or Petit.”

So contrary to what some believe, Wenger does know we lack a physical presence in the middle of the park and his comment indicates he’s keen to bring more steel into the side.

But the question remains, why on earth didn’t he solve this problem in the summer?! Carvalho was there if we were willing to pay the money. The lad has been compared to Vieira for years and he’d have made a huge difference to the team, so why not just pay the extra £3-£4m and sign him?

It’s so frustrating but let’s just hope we can get through until January still in contention for trophies and address the problem then. I’m not holding my breath though….

4 Comments

Gerry

September 15, 2014 at 11:45 am

It is an assumption that £24m would have swung it?
The problem as I understand was that the 3rd party wanted the full share of the 37m euros, a little over £11m, so the extra £4m would have pushed SpL’s share from £9m to £13m.
Once they knew they might get out of the Group stage in the CL, worth £20-£30m, it made no sense to sell.
Come January it might be different, especially with a sweetener of Gnabry on loan?

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wali

September 15, 2014 at 11:48 am

Why die with problem u ave known for long now ur telling theres need to solve becoz u know very well that it can not be solved today till alot of demage hasbeen done stupidity of the highest caliber, look debuchy is down u took vermaleen away jack on loan u did buy, why do us this harm. No season Arsenal will go happly

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Atwikirize Benson

September 15, 2014 at 2:20 pm

lets be certian we are being punished 4all this long bue 2 mr.Wenger’s complecency u can’t be agood coach without good n enough players even de brind cd see that our big problem is adefensive midfierder who can support de defence n gives de likes of Wilshere,ozil n ramsey 2attack.

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Isaac Romeo

September 16, 2014 at 8:18 am

I think we need to play Chambers,Mertasaker is too slow & then we also need some speed on upfront people like Campbell,Rosicky, you be given chance to add on the pace &skill because we need to score many goals.

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