Another game, another northern team beginning with “S”, another goalless draw for Arsenal. Again the Gunners frontline lacked cohesion and failed to do much with the few chances made available to them. That was partly to do with rustiness, though in reality chances were at a premium. That’s not to say the performance was a disaster, far from it.
While Arsenal’s inability to score is frustrating, new forwards Podolski and Giroud worked hard and made life difficult for the Stoke defence. Many times Podolski burst through and outmuscled the centre-backs, while Giroud had an incredible work-rate and helped out in defence as well. In fact, Arsenal largely outplayed AND outmuscled Stoke. There was no hint of the usual panic that usually accompanies this feature. Stoke struggled to implement their game on Arsenal, and spent most of the game behind the ball.
Arsenal’s midfield and defence is largely fine. An addition to each, especially a quality player in midfield, should be looked at, but in reality both are up there with the league’s finest. Meanwhile, the new attackers, Podolski, Cazorla and Giroud, have known each other for a month. A month! Their connection will only grow over time, and it’s clear that none lack for confidence, something epitomised by Olivier Giroud’s audacious 40-yard lop of Begovic, which went just over.
Arsene knows (about your frustrations)
In his post match press conference, Arsene Wenger was unusually honest in his assessment yet again, admitting his side “lacked something” in the attacking third. He largely put this down to cohesion, which is largely true.
He also confirmed he’s looking to make more signings - but in any department, as long they are quality additions.
And this is where this blog becomes fun, ladies and gentlemen.
According to one highly reliable twitter account, Arsenal will likely make three more signings. He describes them as “a captain, a young ‘un, and a wrong ‘un”
The most likely candidates are Mapou Yanga Mbiwa of Montpelier (captain), M’Baye Niang of Caen (young ‘un), and Yann M’Vila of Rennes (wrong ‘un).
The closest player to signing for the club is the first of that list. Wenger scouted French defender Mbiwa in France’s friendly recently ahead of making his interest permanent. He’s a solid defender that can play all across the back four, and apparently has echoes of a young Kolo Toure, which is always good.
As for the other two, speculation continues but little serious news has come out regarding their futures.
Arsenal’s German Addition?
Arsenal chief negotiator Dick Law is apparently in Germany, suggesting Arsenal have registered a serious interest in a player from the Bundesliga.
What’s more, the general “mood” around the Arsenal high-ups recently suggests they’re chasing a “face”, a big name player, someone slipped under the radar.
There are a number of players this could be. Arsenal actually had a bid accepted for Bastian Schweinsteiger last summer, only for him to turn them down because of his commitment to Bayern, and because it was a Euro year. With the possible arrival of Javi Martinez at Munich, it could mean he’s on his way out. That’s EXTREMELY unlikely though, so don’t get your hopes up. At all.
Another player Arsenal are known admirers of is Dortmund’s Sven Bender, who was Nuri Sahin’s more-defensive midfield partner. It would be amusing for Arsenal to turn down Sahin on the grounds that he isn’t defensive enough, and buy someone younger, fitter, and more defensive.
Other names could be Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (unlikely) or Dortmund’s defender Piscek, but it certainly seems that if the reports are true, Arsenal’s “big name” signing will be from the Bundesliga.
Things are getting exciting. Until tomorrow.
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