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Yann M'Vila Transfer Rumors: Latest Updates on Arsenal & More

Allan Jiang
Jul 26, 2012

Willย Rennes'ย Yann M'Vila joinย Arsenal? No, according toย Arsรจne Wenger:ย 

"

We wait on Diaby and Wilshere. When you look, we have Song, Ramsey, Coquelin, Wilshere, Arteta and Diaby.ย In defensive midfielders and box-to-box players we are not short if they are all coming back. If we have setbacks in pre-season, it could be different.

"

Here's the latest talking points regardingย M'Vila joiningย Arsenal.ย 

Arsène Wenger Consistently Misinforms the Media Part 1

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Don't be deterred byย Arsรจne Wenger's latest comments aboutย Arsenal not wantingย Yann M'Vila.ย 

In the past,ย Wenger hasย admittedย to deceiving the press: "I can't give concrete examples, but when I lie to the press I always speak to the player concerned beforehand to get our story straight."

He should have also said, "I consistently lie to the media regarding transfer speculation."

When Wengerย wants to sell players, he's ruthless in getting the best deal forย Arsenal.ย 

This is the same club that signedย Nicolas Anelka forย ยฃ500,000 and sold him forย ยฃ22.3 million. It's the same club that received a king's ransom fromย Barcelona forย Marc Overmars. The same club that forcedย Manchester City to hand overย ยฃ25 million forย Samir Nasri, who held leverage over Arsenalย due to his expiring contract.ย 

Wenger generally plays hard to get itย when it comes to signing players.

He's thrown the ball back toย Rennes' court, presumably nudging them to sellย M'Vila to another club, knowing full well that M'Vila wants to be a Gunner: "I have heard Arsenal are interested in me. I like Arsenal and I like the Premier League."

The plan:ย To sign M'Vila, who is a world-class defensive midfielder, at a cut price becauseย Rennes have no other option. Ifย Rennes hold out,ย Wenger won't lose any sleep because he hasย Mikel Arteta,ย Alex Song andย Francis Coquelin.

Arsène Wenger Consistently Misinforms the Media Part 2

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Here are some half-truths fromย Wenger concerning his recent transfer acquisitions.ย 

Lukas Podolski

Sky Sportsย reported: "Arsene Wenger has denied the latest reports that Germany international Lukas Podolski has agreed to join Arsenal."

39 days later,ย Podolskiย joinedย Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta

Sky Sportsย reported: "Arsenal have ended their interest in signing Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta."

A few hours later,ย Wenger did a u-turn andย signedย Arteta.

Per Mertesacker

Luis Mira at goal.comย reported: "Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has rejected suggestions he is planning a move for Werder Bremen centre-back Per Mertesacker."

20 days later,ย Mertesackerย becameย a Gunner.ย 

Andrey Arshavin

Football.co.ukย reported: "Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied that Russia ace Andrei Arshavin is on the verge of completing his transfer to the Emirates Stadium."

A week later,ย Wengerย signedย Arshavin. Don't forget that a year earlier,ย Le Professeur saidย Arshavin wasn't a transfer target.ย 

Moral of the Story: Takeย Arsรจne Wenger's words with a grain of salt.ย 

Yann M'Vila's Fall from Grace

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Yann M'Vila'sย indiscretions have costย Rennes the power position of dictating transfer negotiations.

Here's a quick summary: road rage;ย arrested for assault; and refusingย to shakeย Laurent Blanc's hand.ย 

M'Vila wasn't at his best duringย Euro 2012 because he played through injury after being hacked byย Dusan Tadiฤ‡ in a friendly prior to the tournament.ย 

Judgingย M'Vila just on his Euro performances and reaching a conclusion would be likeย Stuart Pearce sayingย Dennis Bergkamp is a waste of money.ย 

Bergkamp was so hated by the Italian press that they named a derogatory weekly award after him.ย Pearce jumped on the bandwagon and spouted his misinformed opinion.ย 

It's typical of the media to go fromย M'Vila as this transcendent defensive midfielder toย M'Vila as damaged goods.

The hit to his reputation has sunkย Rennes' plans of inflating his transfer fee but it doesn't change him as a player.ย 

Last season, he was the onlyย Ligue 1 midfielder to complete 100 tackles whilst conceding 0.9 fouls or lower per game.ย 

Francis Coquelin's Potential for Greatness

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Francis Coquelin has a great feel for the game and is a smart tackler. Whilst it's a small sample size, he won back possession 5.1 times per game last season.ย 

You feel a sense of urgency when you watchย Coquelin play because he's always looking to impact the game.ย 

Let's say thatย Arsรจne Wenger isn't playing mind games withย Frรฉdรฉric de Saint-Sernin.ย Ifย Wenger doesn't wantย Yann M'Vila, it's becauseย Coquelin will be the next great midfielder for theย Gunners.ย