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With a summer clear out expected at Arsenal this summer, the North London club have been linked with a plethora of names from Europe who could strengthen the team and make them challenge for titles – here’s a look at five rumoured and realistic targets who Arsenal shouldn’t buy.
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29 year old, Clint Dempsey is having the season of his life with Fulham. The American international has already scored 22 goals this season in 41 games – the same amount of goals he managed in the previous two seasons combined. Able to operate in midfield as well as attack and also having performed brilliantly at international level as well (most notably, the 2010 World Cup), Clint Dempsey has been linked with a number of clubs including Arsenal, being rated at £10 million with a year left on his contract.
The question still remains – would he make the cut at the highest level for a top four club? History has told us not to sign players who have had just one standout season. We can look at the example of Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pederson for this in the 2006-2007 season where he was one of the players of the season rated at £15 million. However, his figures decreased as each season went by and his value as of now is almost the price of peanuts compared to that of 2006-2007. We can also look at Charlie Adam who is deemed as a flop by many a Liverpool fan.
Dempsey should be a candidate for an attacking midfielder at Arsenal, but definitely not high up in the order as he is not exactly proven at the highest club level.
Jan Vertonghen.
Ajax’s 24 year old captain, Jan Vertonghen has been heavily linked with Arsenal for the past year and with him expressing his desire to join Arsenal, it gave some credence to the transfer rumours. Vertonghen is a commanding centre back – who can play at left back as well as a defensive midfielder. He is a regular for Belgium. However, he isn’t quite needed.
Arsenal have finally found their first choice defensive pairing in Koscielny and Vermaelen who have been brilliant playing alongside each other. Vertonghen would be a brilliant option for rotation with either of the two, but Arsenal have Per Mertesacker for that as well who is slowly adjusting to the Premier League. Add to this, Arsenal also have a talented center back in Kyle Bartley coming up the ranks along with Johan Djourou who was Arsenal’s best center back last season. As for the left back slot, Arsenal have Gibbs and Santos while players like Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Coquelin and Sagna can fill in, in case of a worse case scenario were to occur. Finally, Arsenal have the likes of defensive midfielders, Frimpong and Coquelin to cover for the excellent Alex Song bundled along with the possible arrival of another defensive midfielder in Yann M’Vila.
Of course, Arsenal could still sign the versatile Vertonghen (given how Arsenal have an injury crisis almost every year) but would a player join a club knowing that they’ll barely be able to get any games? It’s quite illogical for a captain of the most successful Dutch side who play in the Champions League almost every year to leave for a club where he would be used for rotation.
Saloman Kalou.
A target some Arsenal fans dread – Chelsea‘s 26 year old forward, Saloman Kalou. His contract expires this summer and it isn’t exactly the most popular target but he is useful. He is pacy, versatile and can provide good backup for van Persie and can score coming off the bench (unlike Marouane Chamakh), not to mention, score vital goals like he’s done for Chelsea.
However, having said that with the amount of money Arsenal have (both to spend on players and wages), they can certainly go for more qualified and clinical backup for the likes of van Persie who Arsene Wenger can trust and rotate with the Dutchman more frequently even if Kalou may be available on a free transfer come this summer. Another disadvantage with this signing is the African Cup of Nations next season which means Arsenal would be without Kalou for a maximum of two months if he was to sign.
Peter Odemwingie.
West Brom’s 30 year old, striker, Peter Odemwingie has been a great signing for the Baggies – scoring 15 goals in his first season in England and having scored 10 goals this season. His debut season had led to interest from Wenger but the French tactician wasn’t ready to pay £8 million for the Nigerian international. However, it is reported that Wenger’s interest has been renewed in Odemwingie, who recently won Premier League player of the month for February.
Odemwingie would be a good backup for van Persie but is he top four quality? Would he be the kind of player who could help Arsenal in a vital Champions League game? Arsenal should go after much more proven players and the fact that Odemwingie is in his 30s’ isn’t doing him any favours, especially seeing that Wenger rarely gives a chance to players who are 30 or older and also he could possibly be absent for two months next season if Nigeria were to qualify for the African Cup of Nations.
Daniel Sturridge.
Yes, he’s an England international. Yes, he’s talented. But he’s also selfish, has attitude problems and isn’t a team player – three things you can’t have as an Arsenal player.
Chelsea’s 22 year old star man, Daniel Sturridge has been reportedly unhappy about being given a wide role instead of his preferred position in front and has been linked with a shock move to Arsenal in the past two months. With the desire to play as a striker and his style of play suiting Arsenal, would he bench van Persie? Of course not. Would he be happy on the bench? Of course not. Could Arsenal use him a different way? As a wing-forward maybe – but as mentioned, he doesn’t prefer that position, and Arsenal already have Ryo Miyaichi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at their disposal.
The fact that he is English won’t help Arsenal either as they may have to overpay for him while there is also the slight possibility that if Sturridge were to join and become world class at Arsenal, with Manchester City on the rise and the young star being their academy product, he may want to “go back home” in the future and Arsenal fans wouldn’t want a repeat scenario of the Fabregas saga. An unlikely transfer but even if it was possible, it shouldn’t happen.
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https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/06/5-things-arsenal-need-to-do-for-a-perfect-summer/
