Arsenal’s need for a new striker has never been more pressing. Robin Van Persie has found himself single-handedly lifting this team and is on the verge of burn out. Marouane Chamakh hasn’t scored in the Premier League for over a year and looks entirely shorn of confidence. Park Chu-Young arrived from Lille in the summer but has found himself confined to the bench with Wenger unwilling to risk him.
Beyond playing Theo Walcott as a centre-forward, Arsenal have very little options in this department and Arsenal fans have been clamouring for Wenger to pick up his chequebook.
As such, there have been various different rumours floating around linking Arsenal to a variety of different strikers. The latest of these rumours have seen the Gunners linked with Newcastle front man Demba Ba (Source: Ladbrokes).
The move would mark a sharp change from the Arsenal of old, who prefer to sign young, often unproven talent on the cheap rather than bring in big signings. Yet these reports suggest that Arsenal would be willing to bid a club record of £18m in an attempt to nab Ba.
Demba Ba has led the Newcastle revival this year and notched an impressive 22 goals in 30 Premier League appearances for both the Magpies and the Hammers.
It’s common parlance, when talking about Ba to mention his ‘knee problems’ and to suggest that he could be a gamble. But he’s played regular football throughout 2011 and the start of 2012 and I see no reason why he would start to slow down now. Arsenal need somebody to come in and shore up this position and Ba would be the ideal addition to their squad.
Arsenal’s need may be pressing, but Newcastle wont want to let go of their best asset. The signing of Ba’s international team-mate Cissé shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement for Demba when he leaves, but a long-term strike partner. Newcastle are currently in a position where they simply don’t have to sell.
The most frustrating thing about this whole situation is that Wenger had an opportunity to fix it last summer. Arsene was reportedly too concerned about Ba’s knee problems to sign him on a free, whilst Pardew did not share his worries. Newcastle ended up with his signature and haven’t looked back since.
Arsenal signed Park instead for £5m and he hasn’t played a single Premier League game. I’m sure he made the club a few bob in terms of t-shirt sales, but that means very little to the fans. Could it be that the Arsenal hierarchy are more concerned with making money than earning success?
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It just isn’t going to happen – especially as United look likely to finish above Arsenal in any event.
no team wanted ba at time rest is rumour rubbish
If a george best was going for cheap wegner would miss out–look at mata–toure–cahill–samba–could go on-wegner has totally lost it-he should be fired.
LOL @ Newcastle finishing above Arsenal. That comment looks even more ridiculous after just getting thrashed 5-2 by Fulham.
Demba Ba is a non-starter. He’s been in great form, but wouldn’t fit into the Arsenal setup unless you move Van Persie out wide, which is not going to happen.
geoffreid
that is a bit of a daft commetn, and i’m a toon supporter!
i’ll let you off if you were just trying to get a bite out of a gooner. :oD