Arsenal have managed to secure the signature of highly rated French dynamo Samir Nasri for a fee expected to be around £15.8 million.
Before Euro 2008 started, it was highly publicised that Arsene Wenger was a huge fan of the young Frenchman and that he was extremely keen to get him in his young squad.
This signing is expected to see the end of the "unsettled" Alexander Hleb, as it is likely he will complete his move to Barcelona.
Personally as an Arsenal fan this is fantastic news (especially the departure of Hleb). For one an unsettled player should never be kept especially seeing as he is willing to buy out his own contract. (Take note Alex Ferguson sell Ronaldo while you still can.) And obviously the fact that Samir has joined.
I believe Nasri will offer so much more than Hleb, and that Hleb has been overrated. Don't get me wrong he is a good player, but made to look better by the talent that surrounds him.
A major thing along with his play-making ability, the young Frenchman has a good eye for goal, which I'm afraid Hleb lacks. Since Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg left, Arsenal haven't quite had that presence in midfield to add the goals as those two did.
I expect Samir Nasri to take the Number eight shirt left by Ljungberg and replicate his success with The Gunners, and become a force in the midfield.
And hopefully he can help us win the Premier League.
comments (4) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
Definitely not the case. Arsenal have been losing their best players steadily over the last few years - Vieira, Henry and now Flamini and Hleb and possibly even Adebayor. Wenger is replacing them mainly with talented but inexperienced players and that showed in their catastrophic end to last season. Nasri will be good for them but will not turn them into title contenders.
Even if Ronaldo were to leave United, SAF can call upon half a dozen class players to fill his boots. Arsene Wenger does have that sort of squad depth at his disposal.
about 1 month ago
Nasri is a super signing. Arsene Wenger would have been glad that the youngster didn`t have much chance to showcase his talents in the Euro Champs, or there would have been some last minute hitch designed to squeeze more money out of us. Of the other players we have seen, Arshavin looks to be a superb talent and we have been sniffing around; but it is unlikely that Abramovich would let such a talented Russian slip through the net. Arda Turan would be an excellent signing, and I would throw one other name into the pot, the young Dutchman Ibrahim Affellay, who looks quick, busy, and with the requisite ball control.
about 1 month ago
Christopher makes an excellent point. Before analyzing Wenger's policy of bringing players into the club, you first have to look at his policy of allowing players to move away from it. Great teams are built on the bedrock players that the team can rely on for experience and leadership. Instead, Wenger's obsession with youth has allowed him to let the key players of his side leave year after year because he places too much emphasis on the young guns that he signs as teenagers to replace them. Viera and Henry left to win championships, as Arsenal could not convince them that they could still do that while staying at the Emirates (The unfortunate reality is that they probably could have, given both of their lack of success at their new abodes).
Sometimes it works out. Flamini took over for Viera and has proved to be an exemplary player. Adebayor stood up to fill the void Henry left by scoring bagfuls last season. And yet what do we see again: Flamini leaves because Arsenal simply didn't care enough to keep him, and Adebayor looks set to leave now because Arsenal won't give him a pay rise. And why? Because Flamini can always be replaced by Denilson, and Adebayor will make way for an even younger, less experienced teenager? Please. It's a vicious circle that leaves Arsene having to re-build the team every year or two years, and that's not how you win trophies... although apparently it will give you a good run in the Carling Cup. Aim high Monsieur Wenger.
about 1 month ago
Ok, I've just read that apparently this deal isn't done yet, even though Skysports told me so earlier on the TV on breaking news. And even though all the talent he lets go, don't you think its funny you couldn't name me three players who have had a successful career after leaving Arsenal.
write a new comment