Are Arsenal really on the brink of selling their defensive rock?
This has to be one of the most bizarre transfer rumours that I’ve heard in recent weeks (and that’s saying something). According to The Mirror experienced German International Per Mertesacker has played his last game for the Gunners. They claim that they’ve had access to ‘a report’ which suggests that the Arsenal stopper who is out for the rest of the season will be sold when the summer transfer window re-opens.
Are we really expected to believe that Arsene Wenger is the kind of manager who would sell a player he spent £10m on just 12 months previously? Whether you like him or loathe him, the fact is he hasn’t really had ample time to settle into his new surroundings and deserves at least another season to show what he can do. Let’s not forget that he was also looking extremely solid before disaster struck and he picked up the season-ending ankle injury.
I guess there’s only so much copy you can write on Mario Balotelli and his various controversies. This just whiffs of doggy-doo and it’s clear that The Mirror has no inside line here. Most transfer conjecture at least follows some basic logic (i.e. Liverpool need a goal-scoring centre-forward, so let’s link them to Napoli’s free-scoring Edinson Cavani) but in this case it’s not clear what the thinking is.
Arsenal are notoriously weak defensively, so let’s create a rumour about them selling off one of their best defenders? Who’s going to buy this? The fact that they couldn’t even provide a reason as to why he was going to be sold tells you everything you need to know.
The same article, however, also claims that the Gunners are on their way to signing Ajax’s Captain Jan Vertonghen. This, I’d argue is more likely.
Ajax boss Frank de Boer has already confessed that they are prepared to sell Jan if the right offer comes in. Arsenal have been thought to be interested for a while and the player in question already has a great relationship with Arsenal star and fellow Belgium International Thomas Vermaelen.
A defensive set-up of Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker and Jan Vertonghen (who can also vie with Alex Song for the defensive midfielder position) would be a force to be reckoned with defensively speaking and should help to stop them leaking such easy goals.
Arsenal’s goal this summer will be to keep hold of their best players (Mertesacker included) and bring in some new talent. Jan Vertonghen would make for a good start.
April 13th, 2012
I can believe this. He is no rock! He is not mobile enough, he has no pace and he doesn’t use his height effectively.
I say get rid of him and get that Ajax defender Vertonghen in.
April 13th, 2012
You’ve got to be crazy to sell mertesacker. Good article, he just started to gel before he got injured, as you mentioned.
April 13th, 2012
beter mertseca than djorou wat about the mistakes vamelon has made so far call aspade aspde but not abig spoon metsacker is agood defender his game understanding is perfect
April 13th, 2012
Absolutely crap maybe intended to show that arsenal doesn’t respect players. If wenger stuck to almunia for years before attempting to sell him, PM has done quite well
April 13th, 2012
He’s like a large rock in your swimming shorts pocket.
He’s basically identical to Squillaci – and they should both, god willing, be shipped out in the Summer. I don’t care if nobody replaces them. Bartley is better, even Ignasi is better.
April 13th, 2012
Mertesacker was a massive panic buy. Arsenal tracked him for years but had BIG reservations. He’s too slow and poor mobility, that is obvious to any idiot. But Wenger got off to a horrendous start to the season, shit himself and bought a bunch of players on deadline day. But now he’s bought Mertesacker, he won’t sell him for years as Wenger never likes to admit a fuck up.
April 13th, 2012
Djourou and Squillaci OUT and Vertonghen IN !!and then we have a good central defense Koscielny , Verminator , Mertesacker , Vertonghen !!
April 13th, 2012
Hahahahahaha! MALARIA DREAMS! I suggest u see a doctor for Medical attention if u ever dreamt of PER beign sold. Enof of this RUBBISH.