Arsenal made impressive inroads in the transfer market on deadline day in order to override the negative feelings that have come with the sales of arguably their two most effective players – Cesc Fabregas and Samri Nasri – and ultimately Sunday’s 8-2 thrashing at the hands of a rampant Manchester United side – new players and all despite themselves winning the league title and being runners-up in the Champions League the season previous.
No complacency there then. Whether Arsene Wenger really felt the team needed overhauling, gave in to fans’ demands or both is another story, but what the past week has informed us is that they have certainly reacted to concerns that were highly prevalent months, even years before their lesson by United.
Finance has often been the factor that has stopped Arsenal purchasing players that looked to have been missing parts of the jigsaw in recent years, which would have made making a beeline for Mr. Craig Bellamy, a free agent, a sensible move, even if he did only last his usual 12 months plying his trade at one club. It’s better to have someone fill a void for that time until you find what you’re ideally searching for than nothing.
I know you can’t have everyone that is available on a free and there could be issues with his personality – Liverpool will be the tenth time that he has had to flit from one place to another – but he is a winner who will let it be known if he has any issues that he feels are affecting the way his team performs.
He’s a pacey striker, particularly for his 32 years (32 is still young in life terms, but in terms of Premiership football, it’s considered that you’re near to drawing out your pension), and could have been a welcome addition with or without Nicklas Bendtner in their ranks.
Would the fiery Bellamy, a man of many clubs and even more words, have been compatible with the traditionally cool Frenchman, Arsene Wenger and his style of playing? The latter certainly hasn’t looked ‘cool’ in recent times. For a team that have been accused of being pushovers in the physical stakes, the Gunners, despite their poor disciplinary record, could certainly have done with Bellamy’s passion and fire up front: no chance of being ‘pushovers’ in the forward line at least with the Welshman up front.
He could have given them the steel they so desperately need if they are going to be title contenders to the end of the season (they looked on course last season until they imploded so dramatically after their Carling Cup final defeat at the hands of eventual relegates, Birmingham City, so their title aspirations only lasted up until late March time).
The new signings Andre Santos, Park Chu-Young, Per Mertesacker, Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta will provide the strength in depth needed at the Emirates, but would signing Bellamy for no fee have been a wise move?
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Are you sure he is faster than TW14 or Gervinho???
I don’t think he’s faster than those two, but it’s a part of his game that would have made making a move for him a very plausible option.
I forgot to put my twitter on here. This is it: https://twitter.com/certaincircles9
In my opinion he would have been worth a go !!
Once Liverpool came in I think we were never in it.
Would Wenger been able to manage a “problem child” ?
That’s why I never believed that Barton was coming.
He will be a good signing for King Kenny. He will be able to get the best out of him ??
Definitely. He might have chosen Liverpool over Arsenal, but I think he was worth a punt. The lure of Champions League football this year could have persuaded him.
Seeing as he supports Liverpool (how many times have we heard that) and stated Kenny Daglish is his hero, he may respect him more and keep in line.
I forgot to put my twitter on here. This is it: https://twitter.com/certaincircles9