There have been a few developments on the defensive front today…
In yesterdays blog I revealed the information received that we were looking at signing one of Mertesacker and another target who remained unnamed, but was being seriously pursued. It turns out that this player is Emir Spahic – the Bosnian captain and Montpellier defender who impressed in Ligue 1 last season – he doesn’t demand a high price tag and talks are at an advanced stage after it is believed that Montpellier will not stand in the way of the move, despite signing a new four year contract only this January.
I have been told that we are, in the words of my source: “100% talking to the Bosnian”
This news has made the disgruntled contingent of fans even more volatile… looking at this situation at face value we have a 29 year old defender who has never been heard of before, he plays for a Montpellier side who were newly promoted last season, and has not played a great deal of football in his career for someone of his age. The boss must know something we don’t… is he a late bloomer such as Didier Drogba? Who knows… But, if he arrives – lets give him a chance eh?
Like I said yesterday, it fits in with other information was given:
I am told that Arsenal are actively seeking a defensive signing, and are working as quickly as possible to make it happen – however right now the name of the target is just not known and is being kept tightly under wraps. The situation is this: we have two targets with hopes of signing one of them, Per Mertesacker is the first (bid lodged) – and the second is unknown but there is definitely movement being made but whatever stage it may be at is unknown. I am hoping for more information on this in the next couple of days.
It looks like that for once, I have put 2+2 together and come out with 4.
Arsenal are only hopeful of sealing just the one deal though and that means that the chances of signing Per Mertesacker seem to be declining rather rapidly. There has been no reply to the bid that was lodged for him and it seems that AC Milan are eagerly eying him up and he is leaning more towards that side of things, that deal presumably hinges on the future of Thiago Silva who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. As I am no expert on that side of things I can’t go into any more depth there as I couldn’t say whether it is correct or not.
Emir Spahic is actually pretty close to agreeing a deal – this news comes via someone who used to sit at a high level at the club, someone who really does know what is going on there so it does look like the deal is being done at some speed. Arsene Wenger must have had this guy lined up and stored away in his big dusty book of transfer targets… he will have had him watched consistently and closely by a member of his scouting team (nb. Steve Rowley is out the country – returned before yesterdays game), so I very much doubt he has gone into this deal blindly. Its interesting all the same.
We will certainly see a defender arrive in my opinion - and the chances of it being this guy seem to be pretty high. I do not know any intricate details or what stage the talks are at (personal terms talks etc.), all the information I have I have just told you readers. The source this has all come from (and indeed all of them I use) is very reliable – as a loyal reader pointed out in the comments yesterday sometimes there can be mistakes made and I bare responsibility for that, but I do not publish things if I don’t think they are feasible. The latter bit of information about Spahic has come from somebody who was at the club for donkeys years – I’d take it very seriously.
_ _ _ _ _ _
Wellington’s Silva Boots
Just had to write that headline !!
Our young Brazillian Wellington played in his first game for Arsenal last night against Boreham Wood FC- he came on as a second half sub and immediately impressed the crowd with his tricks and stepovers. He looked very lively and I look forward to seeing him in an Arsenal shirt when he is fully eligible in January 2011, Full report available over at Young Guns.
Right, that is it for today. You can get information as it comes in to me via my Twitter so follow me if you are interested.
Til next time
Arsenal News 24/7
Werder bremen i dont think will let mertesacker go this season thye will porbably let ozil go but not mertesacker.
Shame but as a back up defender we need someone experienced.
Emir spachic hes suppose to be hard defender with great leadership skills.
Hes got pace, two footed, can play in different positions only problem is that hes 6ft.
I would have thought wenger might have gone for a taller centre half
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bild.de%2FBILD%2Fsport%2Ffussball%2Fbundesliga%2Fvereine%2Fwerder%2F2010%2F08%2F04%2Fklaus-allofs%2Fper-mertesacker-bleibt-bei-werder.html&sl=auto&tl=en
Intresting no clubs have made an offer for mertesacker there has been intrest but no offers made.
The werder bremen coach was pseaking after the friendly win today.
Are you sure we made a bid for him?
Erm, Steve Rowley is IN the country. He was the Boreham Wood game, watching with Wenger, Gazidis and Brady.
When i got that info he was out the country MJ..
John: In certain we did. Maybe its been settled quietly I don’t know but its dead on that front at the moment
Should have made it clearer MJ my mistake. He returned for the game. Not sure how long he was abroad for
Hey Martin, just thought about this (no malice or offence intended). If you are able to get reliable info like this, doesn’t it hurt the club’s negotiation efforts if their targets become known? Esp since we know how news spreads on Twitter like wildfire. Any one of your 1,300 followers could be “spies”, so to speak.
Again, no malice intended. This thought just occurred to me. I know a lot of fans cry out for some sort of news and transparency, but there is also a reason why the club try to keep things under wraps.
MJ – I don’t think the stuff I publish can really hurt the club. I see what you mean of course, and there is stuff that I don’t publish.
I’m very fortunate to be passed some bits of info that havent even reached the press yet – its a privileged position and sometimes its the sort of stuff that needs to be in the public domain… like the £6 mil we offered for Jagielka… I think that stuff is important for fans to know.
Also, Print media is unable to print some things because they will get sued. I can write those things
Good question, mate.
Mate wenger said in the transfer window you usually make early signings ie chamakh, koscielny and late ones.
I just read another article on mertesacker intresting he hasnt committed himself hes just said “nothing has changed” and “I dont want to comment on speculation”
Arsenal do like to keep thier transfer targets quiet.
I would be happy if we got spahic and mertesacker
Haha Spahic, Mertesacker, Djourou and Koscielny to compete for one spot beside Vermy? Haha, that’s a bit too much mate!
Per and Tommy V would be the most solid partnership in the prem. And they’re both still mid-20s!!
Mertz is world class, Wenger should break the bank for him, espacially as the two we have (and Spahic) are relatively unknown and definitely unproven.
That said, Wenger knows, and rarely gets it wrong.
On a (random) side note, has anyone seen EMINEM lately?? He’s got black hair now and looks the spitting image of Vermaelen. Seriously.
One thing I dont understand is why Arsenal always settle for their 3rd or 4th preference, obviously Jageilka & Mertesacker were our top 2 targets yet for the sake of 5 million we are willing to let the top 2 go!
We never inquired about Mertesacker, probably because he is too slow for our high line.
Everton won’t release Jagielka.
Typical Wenger goes and picks up someone under the radar. We should be spending big money after Tommy V flopped.
Tommy V flopped?? R u crazy?? Before we make breakfast out of you juz piss offfff………….
tommy v flopped? lol
I believe spahic will be a good addition to our squad
thomas vermaelen flopped? hahahahha u r funny
I just don’t see Montpellier letting him go that easily… I hope I’m wrong.
Good point DS, this spahic does seem abit of a player, if he’s plugged the gap at montpellier as i’m hearing then he could be unknown hot property
check this out, it’s a compilation of him playing for bosnia against ghana earler this year……looks kinda good (as good as you can be on youtube i guess, but it’s than him slappping a german player)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSlmyfyokXo
@TV The Warrior, Salu, Junaid T: it’s typical irony from Spanish Breakfast in response to Matt, I think…. good to be back on here after a long time on the sidelines, Very good posts I’ve been reading, Martin. Good work.
Martin,
Just come across your site after being told how good it is by other gooners. Well done for the info keep it up.
Shame your source couldn’t tell you about a keeper coming in,cause to me that area is so important if we had a top class keeper in goal.
Your sources seem to be on the button
No one of sound mind will say TV5 flopped. Having said that i think set-pieces should be takin seriously. Bcos thats where the games are lost n won these days.
Update: Fee close to being accepted
Anyone speak French?
Le MHSC dément tout contact avec ARSENAL
Le mercredi 04 août 2010 à 12:21
Suite à la dépeche AFP parue ce matin indiquant que des négociations seraient entamées entre le MHSC et le club anglais d’ARSENAL à propos du transfert d’Emir SPAHIC, le MHSC dément avoir eu à l’heure actuelle le moindre contact avec le club anglais à ce sujet.
Dunno if I’m to be excited…lol. dont blame me. I know sod all abt the guy!
Montpellier are denying contact that says.. hmmm..
My last bit of info came via somebody from a long serving board of directors member.
Its gotta be right.
Most probarbly his club playing games, I will go along with your source over some article
Martin,
I was told from quite a large share holder that their will be big movements regarding the takeover come the end of this year, have you heard anything at all about that ?
Fiszman is ill and will sell his shares
Cheers but sometimes they are wrong, there are so many smoke and mirror signals around at the moment its so hard to tell, Was convinced on this guy though. As I said, very high level assurance and even coaches have said that its progressed.
On Fiszman – he is very, very seriously ill and nobody knows what is happening to his shares and who he will leave them too. Absolutely nobody
TV did indeed flop!! FLOP LIKE A FOX! IN ARSENE WE TRUST!
Well, that statement by Montpellier puts a spanner in the works.
But anyway, if we are interested, I guess Boro Primorac (first team coach, bosnian) would know a thing or two about Spahic. So I trust they have done all the research and analysis on him.
just heard that werder bremen have told potential buyers that mertesacker isn’t gonna be leaving b4 the transfer deadline, this is a major problem for arsenal. emir will surely only be used as cover for koscielny and personally i think both r too small, we need a strong, tall defender as well.
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