Khedira is not better than Javi Martinez.

they're different players, but i'd rate javi as the ultimate midfield signing we could make. got a nasty streak in him too

Gazza M wrote:

i'd rate javi as the ultimate midfield signing we could make. got a nasty streak in him too

Agree with this totally.

Not much between them in terms of impact they would have.

If we didn't feel like blowing a lot of money on a big name central midfielder we should have signed Schneiderlin two months ago, though. Not sure what game we're playing here. By all 'real' (as in: people who are actually connected to the players and the clubs) accounts we haven't even enquired about Khedira. Or anyone else who plays in midfield for that matter.

I think we're still doing our same old opportunistic squad building. We'll buy whoever Wenger thinks represents good value for money, or no one at all.

Striker and midfielder are luxury signings. We were in deep shit with the defence at the beginning of the summer and we've only signed a right back so far. Goalie is on the way and we'll probably need another centerback too. A top midfielder would be lovely and it's still possible that we get one but we're clearly leaving it for later in the window.

The defence is a worry. It doesn't sound like we're getting another centreback either unless Vermaelen leaves.

Wenger is doing what he always does - leaves the squad short somewhere, and that is usually the area which ends up fucking our season over. We were extremely fortunate that Kos and Mertesacker stayed injury free for pretty much the whole season, and I am convinced Wenger is ready to gamble on the same thing for another season. Not having 4 senior CBs is just madness IMO.

agree completely, rex. we should've been in for lovren. there are rumours that we asked for smalling in exchange for vermaelen. not sure how true that may be.

Let's not even go into how beyond ridiculous it is that we are going into the second season with Sanogo even near our first team. It is a complete joke for a club of our size and with the financial resources we have. It is bad enough with Eeyore, but this guy?!

Just look at every other top club in Europe and ask yourself is Sanogo would be a part of their squads. Hell, he wouldn't even be in Spurs' squad ffs!

Sánchez, Giroud, Podolski, Walcott and even Campbell are ahead of Sanogo. He's not good enough and will go on loan surely.

Rex wrote:

Wenger is doing what he always does - leaves the squad short somewhere, and that is usually the area which ends up fucking our season over. We were extremely fortunate that Kos and Mertesacker stayed injury free for pretty much the whole season, and I am convinced Wenger is ready to gamble on the same thing for another season. Not having 4 senior CBs is just madness IMO.

Rex knows.

Rex wrote:

Wenger is doing what he always does - leaves the squad short somewhere, and that is usually the area which ends up fucking our season over. We were extremely fortunate that Kos and Mertesacker stayed injury free for pretty much the whole season, and I am convinced Wenger is ready to gamble on the same thing for another season. Not having 4 senior CBs is just madness IMO.

Mert, Kos, Verms, and a promising kid is perfectly acceptable.

I wouldn't rule out a younger signing.

Interesting. He's still listed on Arsenal.com. I figured they opted out of signing him permanently.

They activated a buyout clause back in April that kicked in once Djourou had played something like 20 games for them.

Hmm thanks Ricky, I hadn't heard that confirmed. Bit sad how Djourou turned out, for a year or so there he looked like he'd be a player for us.

He had two class games at the WC too. The one against France not being one of them...

djourou is a weird one. he has all the tools and he's had extended stretches of looking really good. just might not be mentally tough enough to do it week in, week out. mango butter and all that...

if we had kos, mertesacker, jones/smalling and djourou, i think i would be ok with that. would prefer to get someone who can challenge for mertesacker's spot, though.