Arsenal To Double the Matthew Upson Mistake for £12 Million: Deal or No Deal?

Arsene Wenger has often admitted that one of his worst mistakes as Arsenal manager was letting Matthew Upson leave the club in 2003 but would signing him for £12 million be doubling that mistake?

The 29 year old defender is definitely one of the leagues' best defenders but you can’t help but feel that signing the England international would be going against Arsenal’s recent transfer policy.

Which of course, the Gunners are entitled to change at their want.

As we already know, it wouldn’t be the first time Arsenal and Wenger had signed the defender after paying £2 million for the talented defender in 1997.

So 12 years later and for £12 million, history might well be about to repeat itself.

In recent years, Arsenal has shied away from big money signings of older players but now appear to be interested in a player who has only managed an average of 19 league games a season in those 12 years and a fair few injuries.

The Gunners already have injury problems so why bring in a player who averages half a season?

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have Upson on my side because he is a top class centre back who impresses more and more every season but he antagonizes two Arsenal stigmas.

He is not young and he is susceptible to injury.

I’m sure Upson would jump at the chance to prove himself at Arsenal and play European football—who wouldn’t?

Having said all that, Upson is good enough for Arsenal and Arsenal needs a centre back. West Ham United needs the money and is probably ready to sell at the right price.

Is £12 million the right price?

It could be but West Ham has done themselves an injustice in hinting their squad is up for sale. It has (I’m sure) led to some derisory bids for their top stars and has only helped to upset the squad.

If I were in charge at West Ham, I’d say no deal because West Ham is looking like they're in crisis more and more each day (reports now of Bellamy wanting to strike in order to get a move), but the money men would likely say “yes please” and yet again, cut their legs from under them.