I am sure most Gooners would be more than happy to welcome back one of our greatest ever players, all-time top goal-scorer and va-va-voom proponent. Yes, ladies and gents, Thierry Henry is back in town (pending MLS clearance). Last night Arsenal.com actually posted a photo of the Club legend in this season’s first-team kit, although this was removed post-haste. However, after the game with QPR we are faced with yet another defensive casualty - Thomas Vermaelen.
This latest injury means we have Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna and Andre Santos all out injured (every full-back in our 1st team) as well as Vermaelen, who is arguably the most comfortable of our centre-backs in a full-back position.
Transfer Window
Alas, fear not ye of little faith - the winter Transfer Window (note capital letters) is upon us, like an answer to our collective prayers. Arsene has already admitted that he wants to sign a defender in this window to provide cover.
"We lost Vermaelen for two or three weeks, so I have to look if I can find somebody [but] only a loan.
"It would be stupid for us to drop points because we don't have a left-back." [Arsene Wenger to BBC Football]
With most of our players due back toward the end of the month, a short-term loan deal might be best for all parties.
Players we’ve been linked to
Unfortunately, some lazy journalism has already seen us linked with one available left-back - the one, the only, Wayne '90k for nothin' Bridge. That's right folks, we could be the lucky fans who have to watch Wayne cement his place as the worst left-back ever to play in an England shirt. How this man has carved out a career in the top flight, never mind at Champions League clubs, is one of life's great mysteries, much like Harry Redknapp’s tax(-dodging) practices.
Moving on, an even more disturbing rumour has us ready to snap up Bolton’s defensive rock Gary Ca- wait, um, sorry – Paul Robinson. Ahem. The less said about that, the better.
More realistic targets have us looking at Taye Taiwo of AC Milan who is on the fringes of their squad and is a player we had watched during his time at Marseille. Reports seem to indicate he is of the stock Wenger usually goes for – played in France, pacy, likes going forward, defensively suspect. Marvelous.
The other name flying about is Aly Cissokho – formerly of Porto, he made the move to Lyon after AC Milan refused to complete a move because of his dodgy dentals. Seriously. Not having reached his best form in France (despite a call-up to the national side) and with Lyon desperate to trim some fat in these austere times, Cissokho is another candidate.
Ashley Cole, ladies and gentlemen
Now, here’s where things get crazy. Bear with me, because you might not like this. Ashley Cole. There, I said it. Ashley Cole could be the answer. Ashley Cole is a brilliant football player. Unfortunately, he is also a dick. However, he is now reaching what some might call the twilight of his career – he has recently turned 31 years of age. Under Andre Villas-Boas, Chelsea have looked a team of creaky, over-the-hill, over-fed lumps. They have been utterly incapable of playing the rapid, one-touch, hard-pressing style favoured by the new manager. It’s been great. They lose at home. We smashed them. Even Villa beat them. A man who looks like a lanky Carlos Puyol, but is absolutely awful at football, plays in their defence. Awesome.
Unfortunately for us, this situation may not last. AVB is looking to make changes, and is likely to bring in new faces – with Alvaro Pereira high on the list. Pereira is a left-back. So is Ashley Cole. You ‘do the math’. If Pereira is brought in, Cole is likely to be surplus to requirements. Where might he go? It is highly unlikely he will be tempted abroad, his age also precludes salary demands of his current contract. His big chance at Real Madrid is surely gone, given the form of Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao.
Ashley Cole will want to play. You can level many accusations at him, but he has always kept on playing. Let’s remember, despite the acrimonious circumstances in which he left us, he was a childhood Arsenal fan. If Chelsea ship him out, he will have plenty to prove. He has won a lot of trophies. He is probably better than all the other left-backs currently at our Club. We would almost certainly be his best option. This time ‘round, we would hold all the power. Could we take him back? This is not so much speculation, but a serious analysis of what we need in this position. Someone who is organised, knows when to sit and defend, when to get forward. Someone who, when they do get forward, has the quality to feed our front players. I know I am not the only one who is tired of watching our full-backs steam past on the overlap and then hit a cross more ugly than Owen Coyle.
So, think about it. Let me know what you come up with. Would you be able to accept him back? I think I just might. Rather him than Wayne Bridge!
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