Yeah, I think it's breast if we nipple this in the bud.

2 months later

Dailymail reported the same.

I agree with Tambourine Man, but there is very subtle differences between the 2 currently. Furthermore...

Orbinho ‏@Orbinho 23m
Ashley Williams made a Premier League high 52 defensive blocks. The whole Arsenal team made 89 last season.

Orbinho ‏@Orbinho 22m
Williams also made a league high 381 defensive clearances last season.

Klaus wrote:

Is he really good enough for Arsenal?

Only seen very little of him, Wales, for the national team he has looked a bit ropey but ok for Swansea. I think we need more a Rio type player with good pace rather than another big strong CB which the impression I get of him when watching him. If only Per had more pace.....

😆 "Defensive blocks", what about aerial duels?

Not sold on williams. Reid or papadopoulos.

60k a week is a bit steep. I'm not sure he'll be a great success.

Williams is quite similar to Vermaelen in style in that he's a last ditch type defender who's more reactive than proactive which supplements Chico Flores in style. That's why I feel he'd supplement Koscielny as well. He also shares some leadership qualities with the Belgian although there have come question marks over the latter's after him getting the armband. However, he also has the exact same height as Vermaelen so isn't very tall for a central defender (6 ft) - especially when you put him alongside Koscielny, we're going to lack height in the side against the Stokes and Sunderlands of this world.

At the start of the season I thought Williams looked poor. His fumbling with ball resulted in a couple of embarrasing goals for the opposition and in general his passing leaves a lot to be desired so Vermaelen has a definitive edge on this front, I feel. However, as the season progressed you have to say that Williams was one of the best CBs in the league during the mid part of the season.

All in all I think he'd be a like for like replacement for Vermaelen but he lacks experience at the top level, he's not getting any younger so there's not a lot of room for improvement and his passing is quite poor but you can say the same about Mertesacker's so it would be a gamble. But if he would be content with being the 3rd choice defender, I think it's worth a gamble.

As for the reported fee. £12m is having a laugh. Wenger's highest ever transfer fee was £15m ffs!

I like N'Koulou as well but haven't watched him enough to form a proper opionion. Was a beast when we played Marseille a couple of seasons ago. He's getting very mixed reviews though. Some think he's the second coming of Desailly and some think he's whiny and error prone.

Captain wrote:

Not sold on williams. Reid or papadopoulos.

Agreed.

He might be good for now, but he is already 28 and 10m is abit steep for him considering.

Schalke only want 15m for Papadopoulos. Its looking like Wenger wants more PL experience.

Means he doesn't have much top seasons left in him.

Clrnc wrote:

Means he doesn't have much top seasons left in him.

About 4? Which would probably be the length of his contract. I don't think there's a problem with his age.