After making some astute signings this summer, I’m sure there’s a wealth of good feeling surrounding Arsenal. Following season upon season of frugal spending, Arsene Wenger has finally loosened his purse strings and plucked up Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla. Anybody who saw the Gunner’s 4-0 thrashing of FC Koln last Sunday will attest that all three of them look set to have a significant impact on Arsenal’s season. If Arsene Wenger is to bring success to the Emirates, it may well be a result of the smart signings he made during this transfer window.
Some Arsenal fans may feel that their work is done. Others may feel that Arsene will need to dip back into the market should key personnel move on (Robin Van Persie and Alex Song). There are others who feel that a key part of the squad has not been assessed. After all, wasn’t it defensively where the Gunners fell down last season? Perhaps an addition in this area could help provide the security at the back that Arsenal seem to lack.
It’s convenient then, that Corriere dello Sport (via The Mirror) claim Arsenal are lining up a ‘shock’ swap deal with AC Milan. It seems that they’re trying to trade Nicklas Bendtner for centre-back Philippe Mexes. It would be a shock, I think, because if Arsenal pulled it off they would essentially be swapping a leaden, frustrating, egomaniac for a talented, experienced and level-headed Frenchman.
We all know that Arsene Wenger loves to sign French players and it seems that Mexes isn’t entirely happy with his role at AC Milan. French national coach, Didier Deschamps has said:“I know Philippe well and he is part of the wider France squad. What is happening to him? I don’t know if he will leave Milan, as there is a particular situation going on with his club.”
So should Arsenal provide him with an escape route from this ‘situation’? I think he’d be an extremely smart addition to the squad. He’s 30-years-old, has bags of experience (183 appearances for Roma between 2004-2011 and 29 appearances for the French National team). He’s tough, great in the air and is extremely well organised. He could be the signing that Sebastien Squillaci wasn’t.
As for Milan, they’ll probably want some money along with Bendtner if they’re to agree a swap. This doesn’t stop the fact that the deal seems to be weighted heavily in Arsenal’s favour. So let’s hope that this isn’t another wicked rumour and that Arsene Wenger snaps him up!
What’s your take, would this be a good swap deal for Arsenal?
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Start winning the games.By that I mean play to win not incessant passing and trying to thread a ball thru a packed defence.Btw string less passes. Haven’t we said that before?
Believe me,if Wenger can’t deliver he shd pack his lap top and leave. A new man could finally bring the gunners to a new era,a successful one.
Why would we sign mexes? He’s been poor recently, and he’s going to need high wages and 1st team football. He’s not as good as Koscielny and Vermaelen will likely be the new captain. If a CB is signed, he will have to be relatively young (and therefore not expecting 1st team football to be guaranteed), versatile enough to cover another position or come from a smaller club.