Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Debunking All the Gunners' False January Signings
Sometimes it's better to set your expectations low so you don't get disappointed.
Christmas has just passed, so maybe columnists need to be bear in mind the feelings of Arsenal supporters before making up such optimistic transfer rumours.
This article will debunk all the false January signings that Arsène Wenger supposedly has planned.
Lille: Moussa Sow
1 of 11According to talkSPORT, Arsenal are planning a move for £20 million valued Lille forward Moussa Sow.
BS rating: 10/10
What is the point in the second coming of Thierry Henry if Moussa Sow was to gatecrash?
Thankfully he won't be gatecrashing because he'll splitting time between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea playing in the Africa Cup of Nations for Senegal.
So with this in mind, why would Arsenal buy an inactive player?
Sunderland: Kieran Richardson
2 of 11According to James Nursey at Mirror Football, Arsenal are contemplating about signing Sunderland's versatile Kieran Richardson.
BS Rating: 9.5/10
At least there's some tangible logic since Arsenal have a void at left-back.
Kieran Richardson wouldn't make the Arsenal first team as a midfielder let alone as a left-back.
He doesn't want to play at left-back, he's not a natural defender, and he's undisciplined.
Martin O'Neill has identified this and in the last five games, Richardson has played as a left winger.
Borussia Dortmund: Mario Götze
3 of 11Mario Götze is a much better footballer than Eden Hazard but I'd be shocked if the German wunderkind ended up at Arsenal.
According to John Cross at Mirror Football, Arsenal have lined up a £30 million bid for Götze.
BS Rating: 10/10
Would you bid for something that's not on sale?
Why would Arsenal bid for Götze when Borussia Dortmund have made it clear that they are not going to sell.
Real Madrid: Raúl Albiol
4 of 11According to Thomas Sunderland at Footy Bunker, Arsenal are preparing a bid for Real Madrid bench warmer Raúl Albiol.
BS Rating: 5/10
The rumour isn't complete baseless.
Firstly, it's a defender and Arsenal needs defenders—preferably ones that aren't of the Sébastien Squillaci makeup.
Lyon: Aly Cissokho
5 of 11According to Jamie Sanderson at metro.co.uk, Arsenal will pursue Lyon left-back Aly Cissokho.
BS Rating: 9/10
What use is Cissokho to Arsenal if he can't play in the UEFA Champions League?
He's cup-tied having already participated in the tournament with Lyon.
Excluding the 7-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb (which should be under investigation for match-fixing), Cissokho has been absolutely terrible in the games I've seen.
A few weeks ago, he was the worse player on the field in the 1-0 loss to Valenciennes.
He was an accident waiting to happen in losses against Sochaux and Rennes.
This season, he hasn't provided a single goal or assist in Ligue 1, but he has scored two own goals.
Lille: Eden Hazard
6 of 11According to Daily Mail, Lille have slapped a £43 million price tag for Eden Hazard.
Translation: Lille have no plans to sell the Belgian until 2013.
Hazard's contract ends in 2015 so if he plays it smart, he will resist signing a contract extension, thereby forcing a move away in several years time.
This is a perfect situation for Arsenal because it gives the club two more seasons to evaluate Hazard.
So don't believe any transfer rumours linking Arsenal to signing Hazard anytime soon.
Manchester City: Wayne Bridge
7 of 11According to John Cross and David McDonnell at Mirror Football, Arsenal are set to sign Manchester City outcast Wayne Bridge.
BS Rating: 10/10
Arsène Wenger has denied making an approach for Bridge but the barrier to the move could be Manchester City.
It's not in their best interest to help a competing Premier League team.
Schalke: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
8 of 11According to Crunch Sports, Arsenal are considering a bid for Schalke forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
BS Rating: 10/10
Huub Stevens has worked wonders at Schalke taking them from ninth place to third place in three months.
Huntelaar is in career best form, 26 goals in 26 games, and unless Arsenal submit a £30-40 million bid (which they won't), Huntelaar is going nowhere.
Köln: Lukas Podolski
9 of 11According to Bill Mills at Mirror Football, Lukas Podolski is interested in a switch to Arsenal.
BS Rating: 100/10
Mills:
""The Cologne striker, 26, is keen on a move to the Emirates, but is still waiting for a deal to be struck between the two clubs."
"
Raphael Honigstein at guardian.co.uk reported that Lukas Podolski will not move to Arsenal because he does not want to endanger his Euro 2012 chances.
Debunking Other Players Linked to Arsenal
10 of 11BS Rating: 10/10
Here are several reasons why Pato will not leave A.C. Milan.
BS Rating: 6/10
Taiwo's agent is pessimistic about the deal happening.
Ajax: Jan Vertonghen
BS Rating: 7/10
Won't happen because Ajax need him.
If you've never watched Vertonghen play, make sure to watch both Europa League legs of Ajax vs. Manchester United on February 16 and 23.
BS Rating: 10/10
According to ESPN, Arsène Wenger has ruled out signing the Frenchman.
Figuring out Arsène Wenger's Transfer Policy
11 of 11When talking about signing midfielders during the January transfer window, Arsène Wenger said:
""No. In midfield I have Wilshere and Diaby, who will be back, and that would mean a lot of players."
"
So that leaves us with defenders and forwards.
Considering Arsenal play with one centre-forward and with Thierry Henry back, it's highly unlikely that Wenger will buy a forward.
Right-back and left-back should be the main priority for Arsenal during the January transfer window.
Left-back wouldn't be an issue if he had bought José Enrique.
At right-back, surely there's someone out there that's better than Johan Djourou.
The alternative option is that Wenger will continue starting make-shift full-backs until the return of Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs.
