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Reports suggest that Arsenal have made a €13m bid for 31-year old striker David Villa, who is unhappy at Barcelona and looking for a move away.

Arsenal have been interested for a while in the former Valencia man, but have only recently had it confirmed that Barcelona are willing to negotiate.

It has been suggested that any move would be a loan followed by an option to buy.

Leverage

While the move seems a far-fetched one, Arsenal have a few advantages in their pursuit of Villa. For a start, there are the eight players who have moved from North London to Catalonia in recent times, from Marc Overmars to Alex Song. The two clubs have a vague business relationship, albeit a one-sided one.

What's more, Barcelona have been naughty. They owe Arsenal money from the Fabregas and Song transfers, as well as performance bonuses. Arsenal may be willing to waive this provided the fee for Villa is reasonable. Villa is understood to be keen to move to Arsenal, having stated his appreciation for them in the past.

Still got it

Villa is 31, and will be 32 in December. He's not far back from a lengthy absence with a broken leg and is out of favour. Does he still have 'it', that spark that has seen him become Spain's record goalscorer?

To a point, yes.

The burning pace is not so terrifying, and his stamina has suffered. But the movement, the awareness and the finishing remain.

David Villa has scored five goals in La Liga this season, despite appearing mainly off the bench. He is the type of striker Arsenal favour, with the finishing ability of Theo Walcott, but the striking ability and awareness of Olivier Giroud.

Villa has at least two years left at the top, and his presence would help the other strikers innumerably.

It's an unusual deal for Arsenal, but one that could prove very useful in the future and the present if it comes off.

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Comments  

#33 Ethan Ricksson 2013-01-06 11:45
I think we need spain players with qualities, like Carzola for example....A player of Carzola's qualities can easily catch up with our game not like Olivier Giroud that is taking a lot of time to adapt to the premier league game, so if i should select the kind of players we should be having i'll go for 2 strikers which are Roberto Soldado of Valencia and Falcao who is out of our limit cos there're a lot of clubs on him in which we know Arsene wenger is not the type of Man that compete when it comes to buying quality players so what i suggest is that Mr wenger should go to Spain and pack as much as he can pack into the squad and let them all play Spain type of football similar to barcelona's style of play which everyone knows....
#32 rushy m 2013-01-05 15:45
not a as good as RVP but will do for the next two years
-1 #31 lorenzo 2013-01-04 19:42
i believe that arsenal should buy costa the argentinia international midfielder and arsenal should buy darren mattocks the jamaican striker and benatia the morocan international defender then we would start to win trophies.
#30 kasie 2013-01-04 18:34
I don't think villa would be a good buy con considering the fact he has just 2years left,AW should go for more prolific strikers that can change the game.
+1 #29 john kelly 2013-01-04 17:41
I cant understand some fans how can you say a player like villa cud not do a job at arsenal he is a world class finisher something we dont hav at the moment as much as henry is a god at the emirates lets face it last yr he cudnt give us no more than 15mins a game the pace had left him plus he iz now 35 david villa to me regardless his age is one of the most prolific strikers out there like tola said look at raul villa is that type of player theu might lose pace but neva lose the knack of scoring goals wenger bring him in and another thing barca as a big club shud be ashame of themselves still owing arsenal money of those transfers for such a big club arsenal shud be going in for more players than jus david villa
-1 #28 scottro 2013-01-04 17:36
I think Villa brings the most goals in the next 2 years of anyone they can sign right now. Past history of Arsenal talent leaving shows that couting on young talent to improve the squad has been ineffective because they are leaving.

As far as Villa being out of form since his broken leg the stats indicate otherwise. Villa is scoring on average every 97 minutes played since returning. Compare that to every 103 minutes for RVP the top scorer in the EPL. Villa is managing this on a team that is built around Messi and with Villa getting limited chances. His scoring % is over 30% on shots taken. Whoever gets Villa will get a 20 goal scorer next season.
-1 #27 Mannix 2013-01-04 17:25
Another think we forget Villa is a shadow of his former self bringing him in is not an assurance that he will be better than Hangreaves and Owen which Man U went and bought names and liability. Villa can be a big risk in case of injuries.
-4 #26 Mannix 2013-01-04 17:19
I think David Villa is good but in his age I doubt if we really need him for a long term, we have Podolsky who is about 30, Arteta who is also 30, I think renewed Walcott contract is first priority for now.
#25 Dozie 2013-01-04 16:19
Ba has gone to chelsea, arsenal is stil searchin hop wenger sees soon
#24 Alex 2013-01-04 15:13
Why can nobody spell or write in these comments? We can't take you seriously if you can't even talk! Anyway, David villa is an amazing finisher we can't deny that but my worry is that he may be a bit old. You can't be sure he will fit into the league straight away, if he did he'd be a great buy. Still not sure about the price though, especially if barca still owe us money!
-2 #23 ebress 2013-01-04 14:43
We need david cus he will help our attarking
+1 #22 Alan Radmall 2013-01-04 14:04
Arsh is not consistent. Villa has a stack of experience and its this that could save our season. I am getting worried about Artetta and how he is tending to drift through the game without making great contributions. Enough side passes Art, we need runs into the box - like Jack is giving now - and the service to the forwards Song used to give us.
+2 #21 Gambo 2013-01-04 11:30
I don't see the important of Ramsey and gervihyo. Arshavin is more better than the two. They cannot change game than what arshavin does. Only that wenger can not see this.
+2 #20 Hellothere 2013-01-04 11:25
Hope we get him but you
know what these sites are like
+5 #19 Gambo 2013-01-04 11:25
We need a world class striker, and i think David Villa is. He can score from any anglelike RVP. The great problem is the midefield.a strong defensive midfielder is wanted, wenger should try to build the team from the midfield.
#18 abbas ashraf 2013-01-04 05:44
V don't need any players arshavin rosicky and diaby are ther arshavin needs to play in the middle and he will be good and rosciky and santi in the same lineup will give more service to walcott
+7 #17 Tonio 2013-01-04 01:36
I've been a fan of my compatriot David Vila since 2002... we are both from the Asturias region of Spain. Anyhow, let me simply say that he is much better than Walcott. Please people. And I wouldn't mind him moving to Arsenal. Messi doesn't want strikers stealing his spotlight & they have to conform to the Barça system that favors the Argentine. As long as he's out of Barcelona, I'm more than happy! He needs to play as a striker, which he has always been... but could never be with Barça.
+1 #16 KEBBA SARJO 2013-01-04 00:09
Ma saddest moments are when Arsenal loses a match..i wonder why our players fails commitment on da pitch sometimes...moreover wenger should buy a good anchor and an incredible finishing machine...concerning da champions league qualification i have no doubt about dat da gunners would make it...we must win a trophie at da end dats ma expectations from da unpredictable gunners....am always at your back.(100%)
#15 KEBAA SARJO 2013-01-04 00:07
Ma saddest moments are when Arsenal loses a match..i wonder why our players fails commitment on da pitch sometimes...moreover wenger should buy a good anchor and an incredible finishing machine...concerning da champions league qualification i have no doubt about dat da gunners would make it...we must win a trophie at da end dats ma expectations from da unpredictable gunners....am always at your back.(100%)
+2 #14 Deusdedit 2013-01-03 23:16
So Barcelona owes Arsenal some money. Poor Barcelona
+5 #13 Tola 2013-01-03 23:00
form is temporary but class is permanent. David Villa is one of d few players wit class. He can bring to Arsenal what Raul brought to Schalke. If u don't want him who else do u want dat is exceptional according to prof wenger. huntellar,llorente,B a.....Villa is not in d same category wit dis players,he is well ahead in evrytin.He is d only player arsenal is linked wit presently dat is exceptional. If wenger doesn't get him I doubt if he'll sign any other player.
-2 #12 Thomas 2013-01-03 21:48
As i said no chance, too much wages - thank god as hes too old past his prime / big injury not recovered. Dont buy someone who was good 2 yrs ago buy someone who is good now.
+2 #11 Kanai 2013-01-03 21:41
We've missed the players we should have bought in Klaas , Llorente or Ba. We will equaly miss out on Holtby. During the last transfer window AW said we will buy in January but what stopped him from identifying those player he believe are capable of adding zest to them all this while?
+4 #10 akwasi amponsah 2013-01-03 21:38
i have watch the team many times, we need a defensive midfielder , a striker and natural winger like jesus navas, if we get good players on these position then our team can win trophies.
-2 #9 Ski billy 2013-01-03 21:03
A solute non starter. He wants too much wages
+3 #8 Limpars Wand 2013-01-03 20:53
David Villa has the finishing ability of... Theo Walcott?

That's pretty funny.
-8 #7 Humphrey 2013-01-03 20:51
if we can get villa, then we re moving forward as RVP said. We realy miss him. We need good players. Giriod and podoski re notin to Arsenal, its better we keep walcot.
+2 #6 Cass 2013-01-03 20:50
Good lord I hope this rumour is not true. This resembles desperate journalism in which the majority of de garbage in some tabloid transfer rumour are false and will be recycle in the next day or so. Arsenal need a Defence Midfield with muscle and steel, a Left Back, Gibbs needs to learn how to defend, a Striker even if Walcott sign a new contract and a proper Winger in de mold of Giggs, who can feed Giroud decent crosses to convert.
-4 #5 FDon 2013-01-03 20:42
NO HE IS OK BUT NOT EXCEPTIONAL. WE ONLY NEED THE RIGHT MAN ACCORDING TO WENGER SO LETS SEE. WE DO ALSO NEED TO CENTRE BACKS TO GO WITH VERMAMELEN AND PER AS THE OTHERS ARE NOT WORTHY OF PLAYING IN AN ARSENAL SHIRT.
ARSENE TIME AND TIME AGAIN BUY THESE DEFENDERS AND WE ALSO NEED ATLEAST ONE GOOD STRIKER AND NOT OK BECAUSE THE WHOLE TEAM IS FILLED UP WITH OK PLAYERS.
IN THE MEANTIME TRY AND GET RID OF THE EXTRAS LIKE CHAMAK, GERVINIO, ARSHAVIN.......
+7 #4 Andrew Smith 2013-01-03 20:31
If Barcelona still owe us money for the two players plus bonuses. Pay up or we will take Fabregas and Song back for free. You haven't kept up on your payments so we can repossess them. :-)
+4 #3 ty 2013-01-03 20:19
we need villa r u mad we lack goin foward big time. him a gd wide player, center mid, center half, left bk
-2 #2 Thomas 2013-01-03 20:03
No chance this is real thank god.
-7 #1 mint 2013-01-03 19:41
I don't understand why we would go for him. He used to be the man but now it's a big risk, there's no guarentee he's going to cope with the premiership straight away ... And that's what we need along with some midfield muscle and a couple of defenders