thegoonblog.com can confirm that rumours about Mark Schwarzer having an issue in his medical tests before joining the club, are true.
However, on a second examination by an independent doctor they decided that the goalkeeper was fit to pass. It is understood that the club are still looking at other options to solve the goalkeeping situation even at this late stage of the deal – possibly meaning they are baulking over the reported £4 million transfer fee for a 37 year old at the tail end of his career.
A source close to the Grove hinted that the issue over the first medical was a knee problem that the ‘keeper has carried for a while, however it is questionable whether it infringes him on the pitch – the passing of the second set of examinations can be taken as proof that it is a small injury.
The goalkeeping situation is one that has been brought to light following the shocking form of both Manuel Almunia and Lucasz Fabianski last season, with Vito Mannone not trusted to challenge for the number one jersey and Wojciech Szczesny seen as too young it is clear that one way or another a new keeper is needed.
If the club to decide to go ahead with the signing of Mark Schwarzer the chances of the deal being announced before the return of Arsene are minimal – the club are thought to be watching SC Braga keeper Eduardo who has a buy out clause in the region of £3.5 million but he was in Genoa, Italy yesterday having talks with a view to a move. He has the final say over his final destination though so he is certainly not out the equation.
More news when it is available - a full blog will follow later tonight.
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I think it’s a quality signing. Some people are complaining about him having a average world cup, I don’t see what that has to do with anything. He won a EPL player of the month award last season, something none of our players accomplished.
When the standard of being a successful signing is being better than Almunia and Fabianski, how could this be a bad signing?
People talk about names like Lloris and Akinfeev, but what we really need right now is a Veteran presence in goal with a ton of EPL experience, something Schwarzer has as much as anyone.
Its clear we just don’t want to spend the money available and buy a class act.
Wed rather wait and hope szczesny turns into the saviour.
I agree with certain people that 4th is our best bet and hopefully a domestic trophy. Anything will do
Like I said, some people will talk about not wanting to spend money and finishing 4th and blah blah blah. Schwarzer was one of the better GK in the prem last year and is the type of calming veteran presence that we need in goal. Lloris, Akinfeev, etc. sound great and all, but we really don’t need a young GK trying to get used to the premier league. And from what I’ve seen of those keepers, they have zero command of the box, something we definitely don’t need.
I am not happy about this, I don’t think Schwarzer is good enough. I do think that Fabianski and Tech 9 will come good. Obviously he is a bridging keeper for 1-2 seasons just in case Almunia has another finger injury.
That eduardo fella is a class goalkeeper. It’s funny cause i seen him 2 years ago and thought he was class but I thought it was just me. Now am glad to see it’s not. Would take that fella over Buffon or cassilas any day of the week at 3.5 mill.
Im sorry but 4m for a 37 year old with a slightly dodgy knee is ridiculous. Okay he is better than Almunia but why the hell arent we going for Joe Hart. Young, extremely talented, English , will soon be Englands number 1, wont want to sit on the bench at Man City behind Shay Given and would love the opportunity for champions league football. Also, finally, would be a brilliant investment financially. What the hell are we waiting for???? Wneger get your cheque book out.
Why are we wasting our time & money with a keeper that has probably only got 2 more seasons and we wont get any of our 4mill back by reselling him? Just seems crazy.
Although buying Schwarzer is better than not doing anything about our keeper situation, Still, Joe Hart is by far our best option and we have the money to buy him…..
Oh and I forgot to mention Joe Hart already has lots of Premiership experience…
Please Wenger….get Joe Hart!!!!!!!
what makes you think the richest club in epl would want to sell their best prospect?
I personally can’t understand this signing… Regardless of his quality, this goes against AWs transfer policy… I don’t consider any of the keepers on our books to be of world class quality or potential. I think we should be investing in a keeper around 24/25 who has experience and time on their hands. The Dutch world cup keeper (I won’t try to spell his name) has been very impressive and is in my opinion exactly the type of player we need, tall, strong and commanding, everything our keepers are not!
mark is the best bet right now ,could give 2 solid years,enough time for WOJ. SCZY. to mature
I think he will be good bcos he has won epl player of the week & i want to give him a full support perhaps he will be a good signing 4get about almunia&fabiaski
Its all making sense now…..
http://justarsenal.com/wenger-almunia-is-too-nervous-so-expect-an-announcement-on-goalkeeping-soon/4546
Everyone agrees that Schwarzer is expensive, but he will fill the gap (between the posts hopefully!) while we wait for Szscsczsczsny
And the latest is that Eduardo is sorted with Genoa
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90779/90871/7056575.html
Cheers
Nice one finding that interview, Pat.
Fully expect Schwarzer to join before the end of next week. On Cesc, I’m not as confident as I once was sadly.
Well at least some things are starting to happen now. In that interview Wenger also said Mesut Ozil was one of the best two players at the World Cup, and he is entering the last year of his contract.
If Cesc DOES leave, then Wenger could afford him…..
Joe hart isn’t for sale, he will be starting in goal for Man City next year. Given is the one that has to recover from injury and fight for playing time.
Eduardo? Really? Schwarzer has been a quality GK in the prem for 10+ years, and you would rather have some GK that has never played in a top league and his club are begging people to pay 3.5 mil for him? Really?
Schwarzer comes in, provides a ton of EPL experience into the side for a few years, then we have this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brPWeQIc4Eo
Schwarzer will command ‘respect & confidence’.I dnt have to start talking abt how gud he his cos u’ve all said it.BUT WE CAN SOUGHT HIS KNEE PROBLEM EVEN BEFORE SEASON STARTS.
Yes he is a good goalkeaper but 4 million for 1 season might just be a abit of a waste… mix fealings 60% sure but im just not sure but i trust in AW
Mark S would be a great signing. Yes please!
As I recall a certain Pat Jennings was also regarded as a has been when he came down the road. He soon proved he was still top class when he arrived. Schwarzer’s been a model of consistancy for years now and is still a top class keeper. My only regret is that we didn’t buy him years ago.
author: edited for language
Can I ask why you are all pinning our hopes on sczyzyinskyyyyyyzy???? Have you seen something I have missed??????
Nooooo fabiaski is not good enough,why can will use vito mannone as number 1 goal keeper or to get Nigerian goal keeper which is vincent eyeama or joe hart england goalkeeper
I am not impressed by this signing at all!!! I would prefer Wenger looked at someone like Jussi as I am sure Bolton would let him go.
For the national team, Mark has been great. The only time he has missed internation duty to my knowledge was only recently and that was because he had done something to his thumb, and even then he came back sooner than expected.
[...] [...]
[...] Goonblog is reporting that Mark Schwarzer has passed a medical at Arsenal, his second after a knee problem was identified in the first. The signing would fit in with the theory that Wenger is waiting for one of the two Polish youngsters to come good. The assumption is that it is Szczesny but it may not be. [...]
1Nil2 The Arsenal: Are you really sure you are an Arsenal supporter, wanting us to buy a geriatic keeper at that price? Even Jens Lehmann a better GK than Schwarzer did not cost us that much!
I would rather have Wojciech Szczesny in goal than pour £4m down the drain for Schwarzer!! Arsene wenger has never been lucky with the purchase of GKs or knowing the right time to use them but I sincerely hope he doesn’t buy Schwarzer.
Lets get Schwarzer and Eduardo! £8m for 2 first choice international goalkeepers is a bargain. We could probably get £2m back by selling Almunia and either loan out Fabianski or sell him for another £3m.
How reliable is this source? Is it true that Schwarzer will sign? I think it would be a great deal as he is an international goalkeeper with bags of experience and ability, £4m is not a lot of money for Arsenal so people shouldn’t worry
[...] followed by the signing of Mark Schwarzer – though it will definitely not happen this week. The club are still looking at other alternative options after the knee problem flagged in his first medical, he did though pass the second that was [...]
[...] the other day I had it confirmed to me reliably that Mark Schwarzer had passed a medical at the second time of asking after suffering from a knee problem and the club were still looking at [...]
City won’t sell Joe Hart for cheap. Mark is a short term solution, he’s there to groom Sczeny, Fabianski and Mannone. Joe Hart is getting had one good season, if he was that good, city wouldn’t have signed Given.