Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas hopes Tottenham’s stunning victory at Old Trafford will be the turning point for their season, and lead to a series of victories reports The Evening Standard.
The Portugese coach endured a difficult start to his Tottenham career, being booed off twice at White Hart Lane in a series of three games without a win.
However Spurs have turned it around since, and have been on a run of three consecutive Premier League victories, which culminated with their first win at Old Trafford since 1989 on Saturday.
AVB is hoping Saturday’s result will spark a run of victories for his side, and help to improve their home form which has been their achilles heel so far this season.
“It doesn’t stop here,” Villas-Boas told Spurs TV Online.
“The emotions we were living (after the United win) are very inspiring and results are also good to build confidence.
“That confidence is good for us as we approach our next couple of games.
“We have two games at home now, and we have to improve our home form to make sure that this becomes a sequence for us.”
Before Premier League action resumes, Tottenham travel to Athens to take on Panathanikos in their second Europa League group match.
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Villas-Boas has already enjoyed success in the competition with previous club Porto, and is hoping to do the same with his new employers.
“We have won two straight away games so to it would be nice to make it three against Panathinaikos,” Villas-Boas added.
“It is very important for us to get that win to put us back on track in the group phase of the Europa League and then we are back to the Premier League so (a win) would be is good for everybody.”
Brendan Rodgers oversaw the most lucrative transfer window in Liverpool’s history this summer as the Merseyside club spent £117million to try and compensate for Luis Suarez’ £65million departure to Barcelona.
But one only need take a quick gander at the Premier League table to realise Rodgers’ expensive gambles in the transfer maket haven’t paid off, with the Reds plummeting down to eleventh place after losing to North West rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
Resultantly, the Anfield gaffer is expected to attack the market once again when it officially reopens, adding quality to his faltering squad whilst also parting with some of it’s ever-mounting deadwood.
With that in mind, here’s a list of Liverpool’s three likeliest departures in the New Year, combined with their three rumoured replacements.
OUT – MARIO BALOTELLI
Another frustratingly goalless display against Manchester United has sparked further speculation regarding Mario Balotelli’s future at Liverpool, with The Metro claiming he’ll be ousted from Anfield in January:
Indeed, the Italian international has endured an atrocious start to his Reds career since moving to Merseyside for £16million last summer.
He’s yet to find the net in ten Premier League outings despite averaging 4.2 shots per match and made many enemies amongst the Liverpool punditry alumni after infamously swapping shirts with Real Madrid’s Pepe at half-time:
The 24 year-old’s poor form combined with a work-shy attitude has done him no favours, and rumours of his Liverpool tenure being cut short to just six months have persisted ever since Brendan Rodgers refused to rule out a January departure in October.
The only issue is whether another club would be prepared to take Balotelli off Liverpool’s hands. He’d been linked with a return to Inter Milan over the last few weeks, but that’s now been ruled out by club vice-president Javier Zanetti:
IN – ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE
According to Mirror Football, Liverpool are lining up Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette as Mario Balotelli’s January replacement:
The 23 year-old forward burst onto the scene last season with an impressive 22 goals in all competitions, including 15 in the French top flight, which are viewable below:
//www.youtube.com/embed/qJOs1MYekzg
But he’s built on that impressive haul this season, netting 15 Ligue 1 goals already, to emerge as one of the most proficient strikers in Europe’s top five divisions:
Famed for his blistering pace, build-up play and capacity to play out wide, the French international could be the right man to revitalise Liverpool’s definitive fluidity in attack from last season.
It’s believed Lacazette is rated at around the £15million mark by Lyon, but having only penned new terms in September following summer interest from Newcastle, the French side are under no obligation to sell.
OUT – SIMON MIGNOLET
Brendan Rodgers’ decision to drop Simon Mignolet for Liverpool’s most important fixture of the season, against Manchester United on Sunday, spoke volumes about his absence of faith in the Belgium international.
Admittedly, some of Liverpool No.1’s individual errors over recent weeks have been inexcusable. Take this woeful pass against Chelsea for example:
Or this blundered save in the Champions League:
Now dropped for an ‘indefinite period’, it seems Mignolet’s two-term Anfield career could soon be brought to an abrupt end.
Whether his seemingly inevitable departure takes place in January or the summer however, remains to be seen.
IN – ASMIR BEGOVIC
One goalkeeper known to be on the Anfield radar is Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic:
The Potters star hasn’t been in the best of form this season when compared to prior campaigns, as detailed below:
But he’s considered to be one of the Premier League’s better ‘keepers outside of the top six and his monolithic presence, measuring in at a lofty 6 foot 6, could breed a new sense of calmness amongst Liverpool’s chaotic defence.
He’s also a very capable shot-stopper; here’s a collection of the Bosnian international’s best ever saves:
//www.youtube.com/embed/D2lYkgKoBKo
The tabloids rate him at around the £10million mark and Stoke already have a long-term replacement in England prodigy Jack Butland.
With just 18 months left on the 27 year-old’s contract, the Potters could be convinced to sell.
OUT – JOSE ENRIQUE
Having made just three Premier League appearances this season after returning from injury during the summer, it’s unlikely Liverpool would put up much of a fuss if someone comes calling for Jose Enrique in January.
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The 28 year-old is more than proven at Premier League level and has put in some decent Champions League performances this season, despite The Telegraph describing his performance against FC Basel as a ‘masterclass in how not to play left-back’, as detailed below:
But the Reds invested £12million in 22 year-old Europa League-winning left-back Alberto Moreno the summer, so the chances of Enrique reclaiming his first team place on a permanent basis at Anfield are rather slim.
A potential suitor is yet to truly emerge, but the likeliest scenarios are either a return to Spain for the former Villarreal star or a move to one of the Premier League’s relegation battlers.
IN – MARTIN MONTOYA
Liverpool have been strongly linked with Barcelona youngster Martin Montoya over the last few summers, so they’re widely expected to revive their interest following news that he’ll leave the Nou Camp in January:
The 23 year-old full-back first drew attention during the 2012/13 campaign after netting this stunner against Malaga:
//www.youtube.com/embed/0c2i6xP0p2U
He’s since impressed in a cameo role for the Catalans, amassing 56 appearances across all competitions and becoming particularly famed for his blend of quality on the ball and adept defending, as shown in the statistics below:
But the former Spain U21 has gone on to make just one league appearance following Luis Enrique’s appointment as Barcelona manager during the summer, paving the way for his now inevitable January departure.
It’s likely Liverpool will have to fork out a figure close to his £16million release clause however, whilst interest from Arsenal could also prove problematic:
The League Cup remains the only competition Arsene Wenger is yet to win in English football, but with the Gunners already incredibly far away from the Premier League’s pace-setters Manchester City, it may be the trophy the Frenchman needs to continue justifying his status as Arsenal manager – if he can couple it with Europa League or FA Cup silverware.
The Gunners face a tough test tonight, however, in the form of quarter-final opponents West Ham. Enjoying a revival under David Moyes, the Irons have kept three consecutive clean sheets, including one against Arsenal, and tasted victory twice in their last three games.
But the League Cup remains Wenger’s preferred competition to give youngsters chances to impress at first team level and one of those who has benefited most this season is prodigious midfielder Reiss Nelson – who has made eight appearances in the League Cup and the Europa League so far this term.
So, Arsenal fans, would you give the 18-year-old another runout tonight against the Irons? Let us know by voting below…
Sorry folks this poll is now closed!
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The “chihuahua” from Merseyside has proven to have a bite behind the bark.
Liverpool emerged victorious over Manchester City in a topsy-turvy encounter to finish the weekend not just clear at the summit of the Premier League, but as the outright shock favourites to go on and lift the trophy.
Brendan Rodgers’ tongue-in-cheek response to Jose Mourinho’s “little horse” comment humorously managed to minimise expectation a few months ago. But Sunday’s victory over one of their title rivals has fuelled the belief amongst the club’s fanbase. Despite having never reigned supreme in the Premier League era, many of the Anfield faithful now expect Liverpool to be crowned champions come the end of the season.
Having been cast in the role of plucky underdog for so much of the campaign, will Brendan Rodgers’ side be affected by this shift in perception?
The evidence from Sunday’s victory would suggest not. Rodgers’ side delivered an impressive first half to stride into a 2-0 lead before resolutely overcoming a wobble to secure the three points through Philippe Coutinho’s late strike.
Speaking after the match, the Liverpool manager’s belief and confidence in his players to deliver shone through in his comments. Rodgers stated “we’ve been put under pressure in a very big game against a big opponent but you can see from our football that we are coping” before adding “my message to the players is to continue. We don’t need to change.”
Self-belief and confidence in Liverpool to now emerge triumphant in the title race has permeated every corner of the club. Captain Steven Gerrard claimed that the victory over City was the club’s “biggest statement” of intent yet.
Although the Merseysiders haven’t triumphed in England’s top division since 1990, there are enough experienced figures in Rodgers’ side to guide the rest. Raheem Sterling’s opening goal at the weekend would suggest that the youngsters are yet to be fazed by the pressure but the likes of Gerrard and Luis Suarez will have a crucial role to play in the coming month.
The bookmakers in the aftermath of Sunday’s result have almost unanimously installed Liverpool as the favourites to lift the trophy in May. Bet365 are currently offering odds as short as 4/5 on this outcome, with Ladbrokes and SkyBet along with many others offering 8/11.
Tommy Smith in the Liverpool Echo argues that Liverpool have been handling the pressure for months now, citing their comprehensive victories over the likes of Arsenal, Everton and Manchester United as evidence. But with so few matches left in the season, this is arguably the first time that last season’s seventh placed side have been definitive favourites for the trophy.
Despite sitting top at Christmas, Liverpool were still considered rank outsiders by most at that point. Valiant performances against Chelsea and City in the festive period failed to yield any points and it was presumed that the Merseysiders would gradually slide out of the title picture.
But unlike Arsenal, Liverpool have managed to peak at just the right time. An incredible run of ten consecutive victories in the league have propelled the club into the driving seat in the title race with just under a month to go. Even the most ardent Liverpool fans at the beginning of the campaign wouldn’t have dreamed that the club would occupy this position at this stage of the season.
Seemingly the neutrals’ favourites, there is no evidence to suggest at this point that Liverpool will wilt now that they find themselves as the frontrunners. Comprehensive victories against their rivals have been complemented by gritty performances against Sunderland and West Ham. The best teams manage to win when they aren’t at their best and Rodgers’ side have proven themselves capable of doing so in recent weeks.
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But at the end of the day, this is the Premier League. Already this season, Arsenal and Chelsea have drifted back into the chasing pack having occupied the box seat, the former to an obviously more dramatic extent. To invoke a classic footballing cliche, Liverpool may have overcome one giant hurdle in defeating City but there are still four “cup finals” to go.
Sky may just be saying it to drum up interest in their coverage, but their will be more twists and turns to come. From Sunday’s match alone, Jordan Henderson’s suspension and the extent of Daniel Sturridge’s knock could prove pivotal in Liverpool’s prospects.
Eyes will inevitably turn to the fixture against Chelsea at Anfield as the most decisive but Rodgers’ side cannot afford to let their gaze wonder beyond their next match at Carrow Road. Having now been assigned the definitive tag of favourites with just four matches to go, it will be interesting to see whether Liverpool can cope with this additional burden.
Wasted, ignored and out in the cold. This Premier League XI is a team made up of the top tier’s most wasted talent that are currently occupying the bench instead of putting in the performances they’re capable of on the pitch.
The cut-throat nature of the Premier League means a few poor showings and a player is out of the team, or perhaps they never make it into the team following a transfer to a new club. Either way, a talented player soon becomes a wasted commodity when they could be easily commanding a place in another team.
Read on to see if any of your team’s players have made it into the Premier League’s Wasted XI – a collection of footballers who are simply being wasted at their current club.
Click on Oriol Romeu to unveil the Premier League’s Wasted XI
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Theo Walcott may want to play as a central striker, but for Arsenal he appears a more useful attacking option out wide.
It has been over two months since stories first emerged about the difficulties surrounding Theo Walcott’s contract negotiations, yet, with almost a third of the Premier League season gone, there is still no indication that a deal has been agreed between the club and the Arsenal striker. Talks over extending the 23-year-old’s contract apparently hinge not on money, but on the very word just used to describe him: striker.
Throughout the faltering negotiations, Walcott has insisted that his wages are not the issue. Rather it is a question of his role in the squad, or, more specifically, on the pitch itself, that lies behind no new terms being finalised. Walcott has pressed to be played through the middle for months, but his bit part involvement in Arsenal’s season to date will surely not have convinced him that his wishes will soon be granted.
A common opinion is that Walcott is not able to play in a central striking position for Arsenal because of deficiencies in his technique. It is clear that he has not developed to the levels that those at Arsenal thought he would reach when he was signed in 2006. In the six years he has been at Arsenal, the England international has made over 150 appearances, yet found the net only 28 times.
At his best, Walcott can be devastatingly unplayable. Frightening pace is undoubtedly his key asset, and over the last few years he has put in memorable performances for club and country. Many will recall his superb hat-trick against Croatia in 2008, or his quick-fire brace in Arsenal’s 5-2 demolition of Spurs in last season’s North London derby at the Emirates.
However, in truth, these performances for Arsenal have been too infrequent. He is criticised by those who regularly watch the Gunners for solely using his pace to get past opponents and, more condemningly, for his poor decision making in the final third. Walcott could never be lambasted for being a selfish player, as frequently he shies away from striking at goal, choosing instead to pass to a team-mate.
It would be naïve solely to praise this trait in his game. From one perspective it is unselfishness, but from another it is passing responsibility. While being unselfish is a highly desirable asset for a footballer, the top strikers in the world all display a similar ruthless streak when presented with a chance to get a shot away; something that Walcott does not seem to possess.
Arsene Wenger has stated many times that he holds hope that Walcott can emulate his idol Thierry Henry. Like Walcott, Henry was initially deployed as a wide player under Wenger, before moving inside and becoming one of the most fearsome strikers in world football. However, Henry was a consistently Arsenal’s leading scorer during his time at Arsenal, whereas Walcott has yet to reach double figures in a Premier League season for the club, despite playing all but three games in the competition last season.
Walcott possesses Henry’s lightening speed, but has yet to find the Frenchman’s clinical calmness in front of goal; a fact exemplified by his glaring miss in the final minutes of Arsenal’s recent Champions League draw with Shalke 04, a chance that Henry would have surely slotted home. At his peak, Henry was almost guaranteed to finish when through on goal with just the keeper to beat. Walcott has shown increasing composure in recent matches, yet is still a long way from the unruffled consistency in front of goal that is needed to become a regular goal scorer.
It is easy to be too critical of Walcott, and regularly the young forward is condemned to an unfair extent. A lot of the frustration that emerges in criticism of him stems from a realisation of the promise and potential he does show. Walcott may be inconsistent, but it is clear to see that he is agonisingly close to being the potent attacking threat many long for him to become. His potential is indubitable, but whether or not he can fulfil such promise at Arsenal is becoming more and more unlikely due to the style in which the Gunners play.
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As football grows increasingly consumed by possession, the role of a striker that plays off the shoulder of the last defender looks progressively more threatened. Particularly at a club like Arsenal, where the footballing philosophy centres around keeping hold of the ball and playing chiefly in the opposition’s half. When sides play against Arsenal they frequently sit deep and restrict space, looking to get forward on the counter attack where they can expose Arsenal’s persistent defensive frailties. Consequently, a striker such as summer signing Olivier Giroud is a more suitable candidate for the central forward role as his strength in and around the penalty area can create opportunities for the Gunners’ wealth of talented attacking midfielders.
Arsenal’s number 14 can be a blistering attacking threat, but in the current Arsenal system he is much more effective when played out on the flank where he has more space to use his dangerous pace. Walcott has frequently stated he would be disappointed if he had to leave Arsenal, but his best chance at moving centrally as a striker may be found by moving on from the Emirates.
After an indifferent start to life for Mauricio Pochettino at White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur have picked their season up by the scruff of the neck and are now knocking on the door for a top four place.
It has taken Tottenham a long time to adjust to Pochettino’s philosophy that served him so well at Southampton, but the Argentine boss is beginning to stamp his authority at the north London club. The Lilywhites have only lost once in 11 outings in all competitions – a run that has seen them progress in Europe and move up to sixth in the Premier League table. They are also into the fourth round of the FA Cup, and look favourites to reach the Capital One Cup final, after taking a 1-0 first-leg lead over League One outfit Sheffield United.
Tottenham currently sit three points off of fourth placed Manchester United – with Arsenal, Liverpool and even West Ham United all competing with Spurs for a Champions League spot. Pochettino’s former team Southampton are this season’s surprise package and they are showing no signs of giving up their third place position easily.
Tottenham must be fully equipped for a thrilling race to the finish for a top four spot – here are FIVE potential January signings who could make the difference between success or failure at White Hart Lane:
Godfred Donsah
According to the Evening Standard, Spurs are interested in the services of Cagliari midfielder Godfred Donsah. But they are not the only Premier League side to have shown interest in the starlet – Stoke City, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion have all been eyeing up one of Europe’s hottest prospects.
The 18-year-old has only played 11 times since joining from fellow Serie A side Palermo six months ago, but when the Ghanaian has played, he has really caught the eye with some dominant displays. Cagliari manager Gianfranco Zola is a big admirer of the defensive midfielder, and he is sure to do all he can to keep the ace in Italy. If Donsah does arrive at White Hart Lane, it could spell the end for Etienne Capoue at Spurs.
James McCarthy
Football – SC Paderborn v Everton – Pre Season Friendly – Benteler Arena, Paderborn, Germany – 14/15 – 9/8/14James McCarthy – EvertonMandatory Credit: Action Images / Michael TitgemeyerEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
The familiar face of James McCarthy is another target for Mauricio Pochettino according to The Express. The 24-year-old has made 47 Premier League appearances for Everton since joining from Wigan Athletic for £13m in September 2013.
McCarthy has played a huge role in the heart of the Toffees midfield in the last couple of seasons but Tottenham are reportedly preparing a £20m player-plus-cash offer, with Younes Kaboul and Aaron Lennon , if the account described in The Express proves accurate. The Republic of Ireland international is an energetic midfielder that will keep the Spurs side ticking and would certainly be an excellent addition to Pochettino’s squad.
Kevin Mirallas
Staying with Everton, Kevin Mirallas is another Everton players on Spurs’ radar according to Mirror Sport. The Belgian winger sparked controversy on Monday night, when he took a penalty away from Everton’s regular spot-kick taker Leighton Baines, and missed. Despite Toffees boss Martinez snubbing interest from Tottenham recently, Pochettino is unlikely to give up on the exciting winger easily.
Mirallas proved what he’s capable of at White Hart Lane at the end of November – when he hit a stunning strike to give Everton a 1-0 lead in an eventual 2-1 loss. The Belgium international has got bags of ability, but like James McCarthy, Roberto Martinez won’t let his best players leave Goodison Park without a fight.
Fabian Delph
Although news on a proposed £3m deal that would see Fabian Delph move to Tottenham, as reported in the Mirror, has gone quietly recently, he is the type of player that Spurs could definitely do with. Described as a box-to-box midfielder, Delph never shies away from a tackle, and has been one of Villa’s better players in what has been a disappointing season so far at Villa Park.
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The 25-year-old was recently called up to Roy Hodgson’s England squad,for the European 2016 qualifying games against Switzerland and Estonia, respectively. The Midlands club risk losing Delph on a free in the summer, so they could be tempted to sell their midfield ace for a cut price.
Jackson Martinez
According to recent reports in the Express, Italian giants Napoli are lining up a bid for Spurs target Jackson Martinez. Despite this interest, Spurs should keep on pursuing the Colombian international as he’s already proved how deadly he can be in front of goal.
The striker has netted an astonishing 60 times in 77 league appearances for Porto and he would be a real coup for Mauricio Pochettino. With a goalscoring record like that, Martinez would be more than capable of firing the Lilywhites into the Champions League places if he were to sign.
Arsene Wenger was full of praise for Lukas Podolski following the German international’s two-goal performance in the FA Cup against Coventry. The Arsenal manager hailed the forward as a “natural finisher” and praised his shooting accuracy and technique in front of goal – traits not too common in Arsenal’s otherwise ornate midfield and attack.
His two goals in Arsenal’s 4-0 win on Friday night was the perfect riposte from Podolski, who from those on the outside looking in appeared to be snubbed in the team’s 2-1 win against Aston Villa a week earlier.
It shouldn’t have sparked discussion but it did. Podolski was left on the bench and overlooked altogether in the match at Villa Park. For the conspiracy theorists, something was afoot; Arsene Wenger had possibly gone cold on the German international and didn’t fancy upsetting the balance of his team, even if it was to the sacrifice of the team’s most clinical forward.
There are parallels that can be found with Juan Mata. The Spaniard, Chelsea’s best player by some distance over the past two seasons, was cast aside by Jose Mourinho, who favoured players who would work for him at both ends of the pitch. What is curious is that Mourinho found ways to compensate for Cristiano Ronaldo but failed to replicate that with Mata. But that’s a well-trodden path and one without need of further exploration.
Podolski, similarly, has had his defensive efforts questioned. The former Bayern striker plays better from the left in Arsenal’s system than he does through the middle as a lone striker, and yet his perceived lack of defensive effort sees him overlooked; a difficult case to come to terms with due to the player’s record since arriving at Arsenal: 21 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances. Think how those numbers would be swelled had Podolski not missed such large parts of this season due to injury (and assuming Wenger used him regularly).
But there have been rumours linking Podolski away from the club. Last summer, Schalke spoke of their interest in the 28-year-old, with that old snippet rising from the ashes amid talk of Julian Draxler’s proposed switch to north London.
Wenger may not fancy Podolski for one reason or another, but he has to find a way to come to terms with his flaws, if we’re calling it that, in certain areas of the pitch. That means strengthening the midfield with players like Mathieu Flamini or Mikel Arteta covering on that left side. It means changing Kieran Gibbs or Nacho Monreal’s instructions when Podolski is on the field.
Quite plainly, you don’t get rid of a forward, in his prime, who is the most capable in the Arsenal team of converting the myriad chances the midfield create. In light of the club’s search for further attacking options via the market, allowing Podolski to leave would be a careless mistake.
It’s not just that Podolski adds variance and directness to Arsenal’s game, he’s also incredibly well liked by the club’s supporters. Arsenal have already done a good job of wiping the slate clean with what have been five or six barren years; underestimating the contribution and value of Podolski would rightly raise questions as to the reasoning behind the holding onto of substandard players for years, as well as the perennially injured Abou Diaby, and allowing the matter of tactical inflexibility to force the discard of one of the team’s most dangerous in front of goal.
Arsenal need another centre-forward, that’s the way the story is being told. What is actually more accurate is that Arsenal need more goals. Though it is of course a risk, Nicklas Bendtner can stand in for Olivier Giroud when the Frenchman is in need of a rest. The gamble is whether Giroud stays injury-free from now until the end of the season – a risk every team faces.
If it means playing Bendtner through the middle to accommodate the absence of Giroud – or bringing in a veteran striker on loan till the end of the season – then so be it. Podolski is the source of goals Arsenal currently need to fuel their title push¸ whether playing through the middle or from the left
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Losing Podolski now or in the near future will only weaken the team’s pursuit of silverware. Another prolific goal scorer may come in during the summer, but the German international adds depth. In the modern market, it is exceptionally difficult to find players of Podolski’s class in front of goal.
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We are now into the middle third of the transfer window and Arsenal haven’t been nearly as busy as many expected this summer.
Their £10million swoop for Chelsea’s Petr Cech represents a fantastic piece of business whilst the likes of Abou Diaby, Ryo Miyaichi and Lukas Podolski have been rightfully moved on.
But after their emphatic end to last season, many expected the north Londoners to use that momentum in the transfer market this summer, acquiring world-class talent as they hone in on their most viable Premier League title charge for the best part of a decade whilst also shifting some of the deadwood.
There’s still over a month of the window to go – so no need to hit the panic button just yet. But in case Arsene Wenger needs some guidance regarding his next move in the market, we’ve listed FIVE transfer issues the Arsenal boss is yet to resolve.
THEO WALCOTT – Sign da ting
After netting the opener in Arsenal’s 4-0 victory over Aston Villa in last season’s FA Cup final, the ever-contractually-rebellious Theo Walcott seemed certain to sign a new deal with the Emirates outfit this summer, with his current terms set to expire at the end of next season.
But we’re now verging upon the final month of the summer window and despite Arsene Wenger’s recent assurances otherwise, the England winger is still yet to put pen on paper.
Of course, there’s still twelve months of the 26 year-old’s contract left to run and as we learned from the length contract debacle in January 2013, Walcott is more than happy to let negotiations drag on.
But the fact of the matter is that the 5 foot 9 attacker’s departure, even with just a year left on his contract, would add a significant sum to the Gunners’ summer transfer kitty. English players with Champions League experience are becoming an ever-rarer breed, especially those who score goals regularly, so the majority of the Premier League’ top six will be more than happy to take him off Arsenal’s hands.
Personally, I believe the north Londoners should hold onto Walcott. But either way, his future needs to be decided by the end of August.
Defensive midfield
The prominent form of Francis Coquelin at the end of last season has convinced many that Arsenal don’t need to sign another defensive midfielder this summer.
But the Gunners’ engine room still lacks that physical element, with the Frenchman measuring in at just 5 foot 10, and in my opinion that could cost the Gunners in important games – especially with fellow pint-sized enforcer Mathieu Flamini on the verge of moving to Galatasaray.
Arsene Wenger may have passed on now-Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, but there’s still plenty of options out there. Bayern Munich’s forgotten man Javi Martinez tops the list for me, as a technically competent 6 foot 3 battering ram who can also fill in at centre-half, whilst the likes of PSG veteran Thiago Motta and former Gunner Alex Song represent the significantly cheaper end of the anchorman market.
The north London outfit are by no means obliged to spend untold fortunes – and there’s certainly some substance to the argument that a cumbersome warrior of the William Carvalho variety will disrupt Arsenal’s definitive rhythm and technically-demanding passing game.
But in my opinion, the Gunners need a midfielder capable of contesting Chelsea’s 6 foot 4 monolith Nemanja Matic, Manchester City’s powerhouse playmaker Yaya Toure and United’s rabble of midfield monsters – Marouane Fellaini, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick – during the Premier League’s title clashes.
LOAN DEALS FOR YOUNGSTERS
As a football club, Arsenal are almost defined by their ability to nurture young players into world-class stars. Likewise, few will dispute that loan moves are an integral stage of development for most young footballers; consider how Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin both muscled their way into the Gunners’ starting Xi after temporary spells in the Football League, for example.
Currently, however, the north London outfit have sorted just three loan moves for their many young players next season; Carl Jenkinson returns to West Ham for another year, Yaya Sanogo has joined Ajax – presumably to improve upon his frankly woeful technique – and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be spending next season with Ipswich Town in the Championship.
But there’s plenty of names that could be added to that list, assuming Arsene Wenger doesn’t hold first team plans for them next term, including Serge Gnabry, Joel Campbell, Chuba Akpom, Gedion Zelalem, Krystian Bielik and Isaac Hayden.
Only Gnabry and Campbell have received significant exposure at senior level before, so the latter four would certainly benefit from first team football with another club.
FIND A STRIKER TO SHARE GIROUD’S WORKLOAD
If Arsenal are to make only one more move in the transfer market this summer, it should be to sign a centre-forward that can compete with Olivier Giroud for the lone front-man role.
The France international has manned the line pretty much singlehandedly since moving to the Emirates three summers ago and for that he deserves a huge amount of respect, which is why Arsene Wenger has just issued him a new three-year contract.
But in my opinion, the 28 year-old simply doesn’t score enough to clinch the Gunners’ next season’s title. No club has claimed the English crown without their top scorer netting in excess of 20 occasions since 2009; Giroud’s best Premier League tally, on the other hand, is just 16.
Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean the 6 foot 4 striker should be ousted from the starting Xi and Arsenal, more than any other side, are capable of supplementing the goals in other areas. Last season they registered the most different goal scorers of any Premier League club.
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But whether to increase their firepower or simply keep Giroud on his toes for what will be an incredibly important 2015/16 campaign, Arsenal need another striker in the mix.
They’ve been repeatedly linked with Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in recent weeks who, in my opinion, could be the perfect candidate. His ability to penetrate defences with blistering speed and dribbling ability offers a nice contrast to Giroud’s more static target man style and technically a winger-forward by trade, it won’t simply be a case of one or the other in the starting Xi.
SIGN AN ‘EXCEPTIONAL’ PLAYER
Arsene Wenger has insisted he’ll only sign players with ‘exceptional potential’ this summer, but you can’t imagine the fan base being too happy if Arsenal’s business begins and ends with £10million signing Petr Cech.
Of course, we’re now talking about the top end of the transfer market which is never an easy area to recruit from. But there’s still some world-class players to be had this summer, such as Barcelona’s wantaway winger Pedro, Bayern Munich’s aforementioned Javi Martinez and Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, and in my opinion the latter would be an ideal addition to Arsenal’s squad.
Although other positions should take precedent – particularly, defensive midfield and centre-forward – an attacking trio of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Reus could quickly take the Premier League by storm.
We know Wenger has the finance to sign the German international – Lord Harris claims the club have over £200million in the bank if Le Professeur is willing to spend it – and although Reus signed a new contract at Dortmund only in February, he could still decide to move on amid a summer of wholesale change at Westfalen.
Along with improving the quality of the starting Xi, the 26 year-old’s arrival would constitute an enormous statement of title-winning intent on the Gunners’ part.
Even though David de Gea’s potential transfer to Real Madrid has little to do with Spurs, fans at White Hart Lane are nervously monitoring the situation on a daily basis, with the Spaniard’s possible move possessing the potential have a knock-on effect in North London. If reports are to be believed, Hugo Lloris is a major target for the Red Devils if they indeed are forced to shop around for a new No.1, and with the stopper having been, aside from Harry Kane, the club’s best performer last term, there is genuine worry.Although nothing is concrete, The Sun believe that the Lilywhites could turn to a certain Italian who goes by the name of Mattia Perin should they lose their French glovesman. Any FIFA video game fans out there will know all about the 22-year-old Genoa sensation, and here are FIVE reasons we think he could be a wise addition…[interaction id=“noneâ€]
Loads of potential…
Despite being just 22, Perin is already a full Italy international, is experienced in Serie A action and has been talked about as one of tomorrow’s best goalkeepers for some time. It’s easy to see why, as the boy-ish stopper is extremely agile and mobile, even though he does lack a little in terms of being a commanding presence – which is understandable given his age.
It’s quite feasible that Perin has another 15 years ahead of him at the top level, so he has plenty of time to iron out the few flaws in his game, which could be done at White Hart Lane.
Vorm can step up and allow Perin to adjust
With Perin being 22 and Italian and English football quite different in terms of pace and approach, an immediate transition could be tricky. But luckily for Spurs they have a ready-made option to stand-in in the short-term… Michel Vorm. The Dutchman has been a benchwarmer since his arrival from Swansea last summer, and has looked for some time to be the man in line to succeed Lloris – the exit links are not new.
The presence of Vorm may permit Mauricio Pochettino to ration Perin’s game time and allow him the chance to make the transition without being thrown in completely at the deep end.
The ‘New Gianluigi Buffon’
“My role model? Buffon, always. That said, I do try and learn a little bit from all the goalkeepers I play with.†The stopper once said.
Aside from looking similar to a young Buffon, Perin’s game is not dissimilar. Excellent reflexes and last-ditch saves are somewhat the hallmark of his game, and with his status as one of the darlings of Italian football’s goalkeeping situation, there have been natural comparisons drawn.
Potential profit
Should Lloris move on for a fee of around the £25m mooted, Perin’s valuation (thought to be £15m) could allow Spurs to make a tidy profit. In a time in which earning money through transfer is vital for balancing the books and raising funds for additions, such a move could make sense for Tottenham, particularly as Lloris is believed to have his eye on Champions League football.
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Moneyball signing…
A young player at a relatively small club available for a respectable fee… this one has all the hallmarks of the ‘moneyball’ approach now deployed by many clubs just outside of the very upper echelons of the game. All being well, Spurs could get up to five good years out of Perin before selling on for a large fee to make a big profit. It may not follow the ‘romantic’ notion of football, however, it’s the reality for many sides now.