Arsenal

[Arc'Tan'Gent]

I was just looking at Chamakh's goalscoring record.

Dom Lge Dom Cup Europe Total

Bordeaux As Gls As Gls As Gls As Gls

2002–03 10 1 4 0 0 0 14 1

2003–04 25 6 0 0 8 4 33 10

2004–05 33 10 3 1 0 0 36 11

2005–06 29 7 2 0 0 0 31 7

2006–07 29 5 7 2 6 0 42 7

2007–08 32 4 5 2 7 4 44 10

2008–09 34 13 5 2 8 3 47 18

2009–10 35 11 2 1 9 5 46 17

Total 227 57 29 8 38 16 293 81

So, basically one goal every four games. Hardly prolific.

[Daley]

I was just looking at Chamakh's goalscoring record.

So, basically one goal every four games. Hardly prolific.

He's not been bought to score goals. He has been bought to fanny around outside the box, lay it off and then run down the left wing.

[CandyBob]

From the official site:

Arsène Wenger is on the market for a couple of experienced players during the close season.

Ever since Arsenal's title chances fell away in mid-April, the main media attention has been on how the Frenchman would add to his team over the summer.

Naturally, Wenger has kept his counsel. But, speaking before the weekend, he did suggest that he would target more seasoned stars.

"We have plenty of young players," said the 60-year-old. "If we bring some players in then they have to be experienced players."

"I think we have been in the race this year with the team we had. We will be stronger next year just with the internal improvement and with the experience these players will have now. The additions will be minimal but if there are some they have to be really top class."

[Daley]

[tyler]

Can you see Henry making a return?

[mop]

I was just looking at Chamakh's goalscoring record.

So, basically one goal every four games. Hardly prolific.

He'll be a great target man. Some one who can hold the ball up and can't some decent play going in the final third. Don't take his goal scoring at face value too much, he's got so much more to his game.

Argh, I'm so bad at writting this shit out, I suck balls when it comes to the written word. dogsout could explain his awesomeness a lot better then I could. He rates him too (I think).

[The Fox]

Can you see Henry making a return?

Nah he's off to New York Red Bulls I would have thought.

He'll be a great target man. Some one who can hold the ball up and can't some decent play going in the final third. Don't take his goal scoring at face value too much, he's got so much more to his game.

Argh, I'm so bad at writting this shit out, I suck balls when it comes to the written word. dogsout could explain his awesomeness a lot better then I could. He rates him too (I think).

Yeah get dogsout in here, he's the man to explain Chamakh's skillz.

[SeanR]

He'll be a great target man. Some one who can hold the ball up and can't some decent play going in the final third. Don't take his goal scoring at face value too much, he's got so much more to his game.

Argh, I'm so bad at writting this shit out, I suck balls when it comes to the written word. dogsout could explain his awesomeness a lot better then I could. He rates him too (I think).

yeah, cos you've made him sound like Emile Heskey...

[mop]

SHUT UP SEAN!!! I HATE YOU!!!

*runs off crying*

[Lucas]

My old man had a Montego. He never once wore a tracksuit though, because we're from St Albans you understand.

You from St. Albans? What school did you go to? I went to the Abbey...

You're both from St Albans? I don't recall my father ever wearing a tracksuit either. He didn't drive a Montego though.

[carlito]

Some of you guys are going to be in so much trouble when Carlito gets here.

I completely agree that we need a few new players.

I think Chamakh would be a real coup. I saw a bit of him in Ligue 1 last years and he looked great, although it helped that Gourcuff was in pretty magical form. I don't think I have seen him at all this season domestically, but I think he has impressed through out Bordeaux's Champion's League campaign. His prior goalscoring record accounts for very little - Adebayor/Henry were hardly banging them in either before they came over.

We definitely need a new centreback even if Gallas stays - Sol has done a great job, but he is not a 90 minute player anymore and I don't think anyone can deny that. I also think he has been pretty lucky to not be picked up on some of his more reckless challenges this season. He's old school and so when it comes down to making a split second decision his default option will always be an old school tackle and these days those suckers can mean red cards. Vermaelen/Gallas/NEWBOY/Djourou/Campbell - I think that would be ok and if we do get more than 4 injuries in that group and we can't pluck Nordveit or one of the other youth CBs out of the reserves to cover for a few games out then the state of our second string squad is pretty tragic.

If Gallas goes I would like another CB in too, especially as there is no guarantee that Djourou is up to playing CB at the top level yet (or ever even).

I think these two transfers are pretty much nailed on. The rest we might not be so lucky on.

I would not be completely surprised if Fabianski stays on and is not replaced although I would love a new keeper. I can't see Hart being sold by a club where money is no object to a direct Champion's League rival. Buffon is keen to move and 31 is not too old for a keeper - look at Freidel's performances week in week out and he must be almost 40! Akinfeev I have hardly seen, so have no idea.

A stiff central midfielder would be great too. Someone who can play in Song's role if needed but also someone who can be deployed alongside Song without limiting our attacking options too drastically. Height and presence absolutel priorities - sub six-footers need not apply. I think it's the type of role Ramsey could have grown into with his experience at CB. Sadly I think it would take a big bucks transfer to get a top player in this position, and if we can't get exactly the one Wenger wants I wouldn't be surprised if we did go for one at all.

Soooo:

0 transfers = cross

1 transfer = disappointed

2 transfers = underwhelmed

3 transfers = pleased

4 transfers = over-shunting-joyed and in all likelihood asleep

[Daley]

Vermaelen/Gallas/NEWBOY/Djourou/Campbell

If Gallas stays and Sol signs for another year I would be surprised if we sign a centre back.

[dogsout]

Yeah get dogsout in here, he's the man to explain Chamakh's skillz.

I posted this in the Liverpool thread about him:

He is class. I seriously doubt we'll get him. He's not going to want to be Torres' understudy, and as much as I'd love to see Torres playing up front with somebody like him, it's not really Rafa's style, is it? Some of you may remember me talking up Laurent Blanc in here, and this lad is one of the reasons for my praise. Bordeaux have been playing some lovely football for the last couple of years, and Chamakh has been very involved in that. Don't let his goal scoring stats fool you, he's bloody excellent.

He's quality. He's a target man with decent pace and good technique. His game is mostly about holding it up and linking the play, but he's also got a knack for making late, surging runs into the box to finish moves off. He isn't prolific but his qualities outweigh his lack of goal-scoring prowess. I reckon he'd be amazing alongside Torres. He'll be brilliant for Arsenal, he's just what they need up front.

Enjoy having him at Arsenal.

[mop]

Thanks dogsout, you done explained it better then me could!

[Lucky]

Posted this a few weeks ago. Still think it's what we need. Even more so actually after our last few games.

Been thinking about our team, squad, new signings (yeah I know) and next season etc.

This is what I've come up with.

next season' starting 11 in a 4-3-1-2 formation

New top drawer keepr

Sagna---Gallas or new top CB if WG should leave---TV---Clichy

----------------Song

-------------Cesc----Ramsey or Nasri or new CM (Diaby type, but can actually play)

-------------Arshavin

--------Chamakh---RVP

Bench:

new no.2 keeper. Someone a bit oldish, experienced, willing to be a no.2 and able to do a job if needed

new CB

Djourou

2 out of Nasri or Ramsey or new CM

N Bendtner

Theo

Rest:

Mannone & Szczesny

K Gibbs

Eboue

Wilshere

Rosicky

another CM (Song type)

Eduardo

Campbell

Merida

Vela

Traore

Ins:

New top Keeper, no.1

Good no.2 keeper

Top CB

another good CB if Gallas goes

2 CM

Chamakh

Players that can do one:

Diaby

Denilson

Almunia

Fabianski

Senderos

Silvestre

There you have it.

[mop]

you do know that spurs are going to finish above you next year?

[carlito]

My old man had a Montego. He never once wore a tracksuit though, because we're from St Albans you understand.

You from St. Albans? What school did you go to? I went to the Abbey...

I got on the wrong twatting train today and ended up in shitting St Albans. Fuck you both.

[SeanR]

oh lummee! It's carlito, LEG IT!!!

[Mars]

Oh shiiiiiiiiit.....

[Smoothy]

We're coming after YOU!

[mop]

Fulham do have a cup final 3 days after they play us.

Even still...I can see us fucking it u...NO. WE WILL WIN.

I AM SURE.

or

WE WILL DRAW!!!1

[anders limpar]

"Always do the right thing"

(Shamelessly stolen from Clockenders)

[wev]

If Gallas stays, it'll be like a new signing...

And yes, everyone should vote Eboue.

[phresh]

After that, the third thing we kinda need is a better goalkeeper. I think most people are familiar with the names that have been linked: Joe Hart, Manuel Neuer, Rene Adler, Yohann Pele, Martin Stekelenberg, Thomas Sorensen, Igor Akinfeev, Guillermo Ochoa, Sebastien Frey and so on.

This doesn’t sound like sarcasm so you have to be mental! If Gallas leaves you could maybe put a defender at a higher priority but you need a keeper more than anything else. When you look at your first team compared to the other top sides it’s fairly tit for tat with not a massive difference except for the keeper. Your first and second choice keepers couldn’t even guarantee being on the bench at the other top clubs and if Wenger doesn’t see that then he should be shot. Although not by anyone at Arsenal as it could take a while

Foster will probably leave us in the summer!

[wev]

Agreed, Keepers first priority. Then a new physio team.

[The Fox]

This doesn’t sound like sarcasm so you have to be mental!

Uh actually no, I don't agree and I'd like to think that I'm of sound mind. Centre back is definitely #1 priority because if Gallas leaves along with Silvestre we just don't have anyone suitable. Almunia is a bit rubbish and is most definitely inconsistency incarnate, and I'd like very much to see him replaced, but I do think that we actually need cover for Song even more than we need a new keeper. We are nearly always very rubbish when he's not playing - he makes a huge difference.

edit: good shout on the physio team. so sick of our players getting muscle injuries after every other game

[phresh]

I agreed that if Gallas left CB could be a greater priority but while Song will play (at a guess) 25+ PL games leaving you only a few without decent cover you will have to play 38 games without a decent keeper period. I would be surprised if Song's absence has cost you more points than your keepers.

[CandyBob]

I agreed that if Gallas left CB could be a greater priority but while Song will play (at a guess) 25+ PL games leaving you only a few without decent cover you will have to play 38 games without a decent keeper period. I would be surprised if Song's absence has cost you more points than your keepers.

Before our recent bad patch, Song had played in pretty much all of the games we have lost this season so I agree. The recent bad run has been as much about a lack of effort than a lack of Song. The Spurs, Wigan and Blackburn games were all there for the taking with a bit more application.

Its far too easy to pick out games where goalkeeping errors have cost us points. I'm not sure it will be addressed though as Arsene is sounding very stubborn on this one.

[Rev]

I saw Iron Man 2 last night.

One of the adverts before it was for Eboue*. It was awesome.

*Puma. But it had quite a lot of Eboue, including him dancing.

[cale]

I must say I'm intrigued as to where Chamakh will fit in to the team. If we're sticking to 4-3-3 - and van Persie is occupying the central role which is bound to be the case - will Chamakh fill one of the wider roles or will he be seen as back-up a la Eduardo?