• The Houseboat
  • Do you think we'll spend big / bring in a world class player this summer?

If so, state who.

Imo -- no. We'll buy Vela back, get in a few young unknown players and that's it.

Yes, I expect us to sign a top class striker. Probably Benzema if I had to guess.

Sure. Striker. Keep on raiding Madrid.^

One signing close to Özil's fee, two in the 10-18m bracket and a goalkeeper on the cheap.

Unless Cesc becomes available. Then I have no idea what will happen.

I think we'll spend medium on one player in the 30-40m bracket. not sure which position

We'll get Fabregas and Vela back.

I expect us to sign a striker but not a top class one. I think he will just replace Bentdner with a Remy-like player and Costa will go to chekski.

Vela + Cesc + Aurier

And then we wait and wait and wait ... if a big striker becomes available we will do it. £30m+

I think we're heading for at least a Benzema level signing - a once lauded, talented player who's never quite reached the heights.

I think we'll fail again and pick up some solid players.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Sanchez or Pedro

So no one world class then.

Depends on how liberal your definition of world class is, I suppose.

Well I'd say world class would have to be a top 3 player for us. Not sure either of those would be an upgrade on Theo (bar fitness).

qs! wrote:
@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Sanchez or Pedro

So no one world class then.

Alexis Sanchez is world class IMO. 19 goals and 10 assists in 34 Liga matches this season, and Barca haven't even been using him especially well. He has great work rate too.

To answer the question, depends who's available. I don't think Wenger would be sticking around if he wasn't trying to get back to the top, but he'll always be picky and have a lot of faith in his own players.

qs! wrote:

I think we'll fail again and pick up some solid players.

Agreed. I don't see Ozil as a change in policy, more that someone Wenger had wanted for a long time suddenly became available because they signed Bale, he hadn't spent any money yet and noone else seemed interested. We'll spend, but not at that level. Something like Aurier, Milner and Vela/Remy sounds about right.

qs! wrote:

Well I'd say world class would have to be a top 3 player for us. Not sure either of those would be an upgrade on Theo (bar fitness).

I don't think we'll sign anyone like that either. I think we'll sign Benzema. And while he's definitely a top tier striker he's nowhere near world class in my opinion.

invisibleman18 wrote:
qs! wrote:

I think we'll fail again and pick up some solid players.

Agreed. I don't see Ozil as a change in policy, more that someone Wenger had wanted for a long time suddenly became available because they signed Bale, he hadnt spent any money yet and noone else seemed interested. We'll spend, but not at that level. Something like Aurier, Milner and Vela/Remy sounds about right.

I think we'll spend £25m-ish on someone. We'll mostly be happy and hopeful about it but we won't have an Ozil like blow your socks off signing.

All in all, I think there's over a 50% chance that we sign a "big name" player. I honestly think there's a chance that we go after Suarez this summer.