Transfer Window Countdown: 10 Days

I can't believe we are going into this new season with ten days left of the transfer window open, only for us to have signed three 'youth' players and one relatively young but good Ligue 1 winner. I therefore have decided to do a daily countdown of the latest speculation news regarding our transfers. Hopefully we will sign someone between now and midnight on Wednesday 31st August 2011, we have to.


The signing of Gervinho has been a breath of fresh air and brings a more direct approach with a player finally with the ability to go past a player. Carl Jenkinson, although a decent right back, he'll be one who can mature into something we're looking for in three/four years time. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ryo Miyachi both haven't even made a competitive appearance for Arsenal, and the way injuries and suspensions continue to build up, they'll be thrown into action.


Transfer Speculation:


Kaka -  Real Madrid


The odds have dropped from 14/1 to 10/1 for Kaka to join the Gunners on Sky Bet. He fits the bill perfectly, we need a marquee signing, a world class signing, but to sign a big player like that, it'll take time to get every detail correct. It could drag on to the last day of the transfer window. 


Riccardo Montolivo - Fiorentina


The 26 year old Italian midfielder has been strongly linked with Bayern Munich, but talks have slowed down there and now rumours of the door has now opened for Arsenal to take advantage.


Per Mertesacker - Werder Bremen


Arsenal are to offer a swap deal to Werder Bremen for Per Mertesacker, with Niklas Bendtner going to the other direction. Per would be an ideal defensive addition, with plenty of International and UEFA Champions League experience. The ever growing injury list in defense and cries of a centre back being requested form football pundits and fans, this seems like it may have some legs.

Oxlade-Chamberlain Becomes Arsenal's Third Signing

Since Gervinho signed, Arsenal fans haven't had much to shout about, shout about being on a positive note. The drab performances in pre-season hasn't filled much confidence for the fans of the club and new blood hadn't been invested since the arrivals of both Carl Jenkinson and Gervinho.

With the Barclays Premier League only five days away from beginning away at St. James' Park on Tyneside, fans' worries grew as injuries to Vermaelen, Walcott, van Persie, Wilshere and those others 'injured' may miss the first game of the season.

We now have a new signing to bolster the squad a bit with seventeen year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (I'm glad it's only Chamberlain on his shirt. Imagine Oxlade-Chamberlain on that back of his shirt!). He has had impressive performances for Southampton raising interest form all the top clubs, however Arsenal prevailed and got their man.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain holding his new clubs shirt

He can play on wither wing and as an attacking midfielder. This is great to hear as we can now put him and Gervinho on either wing and swap around, and now shift Walcott upfront. In Oxlade we have a natural dribbler with pace who get deliver a final ball and finish. A great prospect, as long as Wenger doesn't try to protect him.

I personally would've liked to have seen a more mature player, but I wouldn't be surprised if we pay over £10m (potentially). If he is a player with 'super quality' and can help us push further this season, then i welcome him with open arms.

Welcome to Arsenal FC Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain!

PREVIEW: Hangzhou Greentown v Arsenal

Match Preview

Hangzhou Greentown v Arsenal

Pre-season Friendly,

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Kick-off: 12:30

After Arsenal’s convincing win against Malaysia XI on Wednesday, today is a match they’ll be expected to win in China by a far greater margin. Once again I don’t know much about the opposition, not because I’m ignorant, just because I’ve never heard anything of them.

It’s god too see that we’re widely accepted as the Asia tour is provided with an enormous amount of hospitality, for quite frankly players who are well over paid for a job that doesn’t matter too much. You could almost say they’re treated like Gods.

Back to the match and it’ll see the usual rotation in the pre-season. Those who’ll start the match will be those who need their fitness to be increased. So we can see any line-up today.

I would personally like to see another look and Miyachi and Jenkinson for a long period today, as I didn’t manage to catch the game on Wednesday. The partnership of Koscielny and Vermaelen needs another look at also, this is because they haven’t played together for a long enough periods.

Once again the team should try as hard as possible to keep running and chasing down the opponents to use that mentality for the season ahead and also to increase their fitness ready for a busy August.

Here is what the starting team could look like:

Arsenal

Szczesny

Sagna           Djourou       Squillaci       Traore

Frimpong     Ramsey

Walcott                  Nasri                      Miyachi

Van Persie

Prediction

Hangzhou Greentown 1-6 Arsenal

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Arsenal Return to Training

The beginning of the season starts now, a long way off the first Premier League match. This is because the majority of first teamers returned today at Arsenal training ground at London Colney this morning.

Pictures taken from this morning, which can be seen here, involved new faces. A laughing Ryo Miyachi, courtesy of none other than comedian and Eddy Murphy 'wanna be' Emmanuel Eboué and 19 year-old Carl Jenkinson, signed form Charlton Athletic.

There was no sign of Nasri, Fabregas and even van Persie, however his may be down to International duty. It would have a more pleasing outlook if there were actually new signings in that first training session.