If you’ve been paying attention to the rumour mill, you’ll have noticed that the same three names keep popping up in relation to Arsenal football club. First there’s FC Koln striker Lukas Podolski who many believe to be a done deal. Then there’s Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen who has confessed that he’d like a move to Arsenal. Finally there’s German wonderkid Mario Goetze, who the media continues to link to the Gunners without a shred of real evidence that either party are interested in seeing this transfer through.
Despite how highly rated he is amongst those in the know, I’m just not sure his transfer to Arsenal is a real necessity. Whilst the Gunners need to make some changes to their squad, I’m just not sure that he’s the right man for the job.
For a start, he would be by far the most expensive of the three players mentioned – despite his age. He may be only 19-years-old, but he’s held in such high regard by just about everybody that he has earned himself a £30m price-tag. Moreover, it would be naive of Arsenal to believe that they’ll be the only ones chasing his signature – there could be competition from clubs in Spain and this will be sure to raise his evaluation to unrealistic levels.
This projected Spanish interest is also important because the player himself has admitted that he fancies a move to La Liga (without ruling out a move to the Premier League, but that feels like he’s keeping the door open just in case) and particularly fancies trying his luck at Barcelona. Do the Gunner’s really want to get their hands on yet another precocious teenage talent only to lose him in his prime to the team he really wants to play for?
He may not have ‘Barcelona DNA’ like Cesc Fabregas, but if he desires a move to La Liga now, he’s equally likely to fancy it in five years time.
We’ve also got to bear in mind how un-Wenger like this signing would be. He has never been one to go after big money signings and would have to absolutely smash Arsenal’s transfer-record to bring Goetze to the Emirates. I personally can’t see it happening, particularly as he rates the likes of Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby (though injury concerns may force Diaby to part ways with the club) so highly.
Will Wenger really be willing to put the development of these players at risk for yet another player who isn’t yet fully-formed? I doubt it.
All of which combines to make Arsenal signing Mario Goetze incredibly unlikely. Admittedly, stranger things have happened in football, but I think it’s best to favour a pessimistic attitude at the moment.
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You made some good points about the Gotze deal, I also think it’s unrealistic due to price tag and competition, however one of your main points is he would want to go to Barcelona, but wouldn’t all foreign footballers who join prem teams? But Premier League teams still go for players like him. Also i lost all confidence when you put Diaby in the same category as Wilshere. Diaby is bad. Injuries blablabla, he has glimpses of good, but he is so readable, has a lack of vision and the most one footed player i think i’ve ever seen. There’s people with one leg who use the non-attatched one more.
however one of your main points is he would want to go to Barcelona, but wouldn’t all foreign footballers who join La Liga teams*
Think that it’s about time we broke our £15million transfer record, and if we don’t do it now then the FFP rules will mean that we probably never might. From what i hear, this kids world class and its about time we compensated for the loss of our best two midfielders (nasri and cesc) with a purchase. Lets be serious, The aquisitions of Arteta and benyoum were a quick fix and nothing more.We can’t just rely on wilshere, and that’s what we’d be doing if we didn’t buy another quality central midfielder. Don’t get me wrong rosicky’s looking good but a few good games in a row don’t make you world class and that he certainly is not. Ramsey also continues to live way short of his billing and doesn’t possess any real world class traits, and lacks the change in pace and flair. Please wenger sign this kid as its about time we start replacing star departures with star names.
You’ve explained why the player won’t come to Arsenal, not why he is not right signing. He’s a good player who would be a step up from Walcott, Arshavin and Gervinho.
The guy might be very good but spending so much on him is not advisable. I think we have enough quality in our mid-field for now.
Harry, Harry, Harry, another desperately poor article. You really need to take some reasoning lessons. This article doesn’t make any sense at at all. Oh, and leave signings over to Wenger, he knows about football.
I would drop Ramsey and Diaby for Goetze. From what I’ve seen of him, he does look better than both players.
Wenger let Juan Mata slip thru his fingers because of just £2-3mil, so I DOUBT he’ll pay that £25+ mil price.
Although I am sure he would do wonders for Arsenal. The £30 million will be much better spent on other areas of thier squad.
A striker, Winger and a defender or two are higher priorties than a young gifted midfielder.
I dont think he will end up in the prem league. German footballer dont normally travel – I think he will eventually go to Bayern and form a rather delightful midfield partnership with bastian. drool .
Yeah i agree abouth the doubt of Wenger signing Goetze But in the title you said he wouldn’t be the the right signing for arsenal. I feel that he would be the right signing for Arsenal as our midfeild and attack would consist of these six players: Song, Wilshere and Goetze in the midfeild. Oxlade – Chamberlain, Van Persie and Walcott as the three attackers. If we had those six players playing regulary with the average back ups of Gervinho, Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, Podolski (if he comes) etc. We could easily do well in the league and other competitions. So i think Goetze would be a right signing for Arsenal.
Olly u are right gotze is the right player for gunners
Podolski is average? Come on now . Not only that, gervinho will be brilliant next season, as was pires and u seem to ignore the fact that Ramsey is in his first real season and was awesome at the beginning of the season, he’s facing bun out. I’m amazes me how fickle and uneducated some of these articles and comments are. I thought this was for people who knew about football?
“average back ups of Gervinho, Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, Podolski”
olly g, are you joking or just insane? All of these players are FAR above average. Get a grip.
Goetze is too expensive (could easily go for more than 30 M) and possibly too lightweight to play in the middle just yet. He’d probably be yet another left winger for a while.
Wenger does seem pretty keen on him though.
I agree
I have had a look at both Goetze and Hazard (admitedly on you tube) and both look good. The question is have they been overhyped to the point where you think they are outstanding. If we do need another attacking midfielder, (and I am not sure we do with AOC starting next season with the vital experience from this one and Myaichi looking good at Bolton), how much better are Hazard and Goetze than say Dembele, Hoilett, Sessengon or Ben Arfa all of whome are likely more realistic transfers and more realistic prices. Hoilett particularly at the moment looks like a good pacey tricky attacking midfielder with an eye for goal and would also be more likely to be happy rotating around with the other players without kicking up a fuss if he is on the bench for a game. i would imagine both Hazard and Goetze would be expecting to be first names on the team sheet.
Do we need an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal or a more a technical goal-scoring striker who can operate from deeper or wider at times but is still essentially a striker. If (although it won’t happen) we were looking at blowing £30m-40m on one big name then I would go for Neymar who is that rare blend of player who is a goal-scorer that is so gifted on the ball that he can operate deeper in midfield as a creator. Imagine a front 3 of RVP, Neymar and AOC with a deeper 3 of Wilshere and Song + any one from Rosicky, Arteta or Ramsey.
Ok Gotze is quality, but I do no see us spending that sum of money to get him. A more realistic target could be the Japanese midfielder, think it’s Kagawa, from Dortmund or alternatively try for Muniean from Bilbao….he is quality and maybe we can pick him up roun 15m.
the most stupid report ever!!! Gotze is one of a kind. Fact is WEnger offered 40 mill € last summer for him. Only for Neymar he would offer similar money. In this case Arsene knows.
That is not a fact. He offered 25. Not 40 million, and 20 was offered for m’villa
We want hazard plz Wenger buy hazard plz
It will be hard to get Gotze. He is playing in a big club and champions, too. Dortmund has the second highest attendance in Europe, bigger than Barca or MU!!!.
Hopefully we get him or Hazard,as we needed a skilful attacking midfielder to cut thru the defense. Ramsey is good,but skilful enough. Moreover, he holds on tothe ball too long.
If we get Podolski and either of Hazard or Gotze, than we will be challenging for trophies next season.
I would hv loved 2 c gotze in our team but the price will force wenger out of the deal, so dembele or isco of malaga could also a good signing.
How cheap and low the expectations have become at arsenal,do we even realise we have the 4th highest paid coach in the world on our payroll?do we even want to do better than our yearly 4th place trophy?are a football club or a stock listed company?Even if he decides to go get a good value for him,how hard is that?
Bringing quality player is good but,I have no agreement on paying more than 25 million for gotze.