Hahaha legend already! Seriously though, I think he is just what the doctor ordered. How do you see Chu Young fitting in sydcro, seems a decent player but on alot of the arsenal forums they're saying he is too similar to what we already have in Arshavin, thoughts? You haven't actually said anything about him, only that we're signing him :P

Anyone who says he is similar to Arshavin doesn't know what they're talking about. Totally different player. He can play on the right and left but prefers to play in the middle either as a striker or 2nd striker. Has a great touch and awareness in and around the box.

He's 6ft so shouldn't have to many problems adapting to the physicality of the EPL and is a great header of the ball. Something else he will give us that we miss is he's an excellent at free kicks, and with Robin seemingly forgetting how to take them it is good to have someone who's renowned for it.

He's also brings a lot of experience and is also a natural leader(He's South Korea's captain) and at 3m it's a bargain for a player of his quality.

Since he's going to be playing as a left back for us not left mid which is where I understand he played a lot a fenerbahce, I hope his defending is as good as his attacking.

So you definitely see him as a step forward for us, with the view to rebuilding our squad to win the title hopefully next season but looking more at 2013-14? Hope he is that good as you say, we really are struggling for goals this season.

The Arsenal players didnt eat breakfast, apprenatly they 8 2 much last night ;)

He's not a signing for the future. More for now, as a backup to RvP. He has to go back to South Korea in 2013 for military service, but could be excused depending on his success between now and then. He adds some definite quality to our squad for a bargain price.

I agree :D however, if he is a dud as a defender we could always play him on the left wing, he looks as good as walcott or arshavin even, going forward lol. Hope as you say he is half the defender he is the finisher and creator.

In other news is Emmanuel Frimpong's new Twitter picture not the greatest thing you have ever seen.

Speaking of Andre Santos, some good news, his work permit has been approved.

Arsenal to cover costs for travelling supporters from sunday. Well done.

We aren't fickle as everyone believes we'll bounce back.

The difference a couple of signings makes.

Our defence against United

---Jenkinson--Djourou--Koscielny--Traore---

Against Swansea it could be

---Sagna--Mertesacker--Vermaelen--Santos---

Wow, I can't see too many teams that could score past them, Santos aside as I know nothing about him but the other three are easily top-4 epl quality defenders.

Honestly, the last 2 and a half pages of this topic is such a breathe of fresh air and has so much positivity glowing from it. Unbelievably stark contrast to that of the prior whatever few, and days.

If I haven't mentioned it already, I'm excited!

Compare the pair:

Not the same age,
not the same income,
not the same experience levels.

The difference a couple of days can make in providing value and quality to an entity, proving beneficial resources and strengthening of the core for future and immediate success.
Privy to subsequent further signings at the back, and this may alter the outcome (positively).

Reports that Mertesacker has passed his medical and just some finer details of the contract to sort out.

I lot of people are on about Mertesaker's (lack of) speed but according to FIFA, during the WC Mertesacker's top-speed was 28.35 km/h, John Terry's was 22.53 km/h http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/statistics/players/distanceandspeed.html

I think he'll be fine

Nice one, cheers for that clarification.
:cool:

He actually also had a faster top speed than both David Villa and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Josh Kennedy was in the top 26 quickest players at the World Cup!
:-k

probably shows that acceleration is more important or more noticeable

Edited by Hinderz: 31/8/2011 02:09:01 AM

Yeah exactly. It's getting off the mark that is more important, especially for a CB.

Definitely more optimism in here - but I still think you need to boost CM. Wilshere, Rosicky, Ramsey.... you need to replace Fab/Nasri.

well fingers crossed that your mob offloading cole to Lille will let them finally let Hazard come to us

I don't think anyone goes on about his speed. I think they go on about a 26 year old in the prime of his career oddly becoming available with no argument from Werder a year before his contract is out. :-k

Eboue, will be dissapointed he left now, he'd have had a new dance partner.

m'vila good enough?

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/08/30/2643516/arsenal-prepare-club-record-25m-deadline-day-bid-to-land

I agree, which is why i get the feeling we'll be in for a big one tomorrow in the CM department. Just a gut feeling.

As for Mertesacker, he makes up for his apparent lack of speed with his excellent anticipation and reading of the game, and like most good CB's he doesn't go to ground that often. He's only picked up 9 yellow cards in his 200+ Bundesliga games.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 31/8/2011 09:02:31 AM

So knowing Arsenal, he'll get sent off 10 minutes into his debut for either fighting or two bad tackles :D

Anyway word is that we had 2 medicals set for yesterday(Santos and Mertesacker) and have 2 set for deadline day, so expect some more movement. I still think we'll move for Gary Cahill, and can see us getting him a few hours before the deadline.

Oh I predict all our new signings to get sent off in their first few games, it is a rite if passage and all :lol:

true that! starting 11 assuming everyone is fit;

---------------Szczęsny-------------------------
--Sagna--Mertesacker--Vermaelen--Santos---------
-------Wilshere-------Today Signing/Song--------
Walcott------------Frimpong/Oxlade-Chamberlain--
-----Van Persie-----Chu Young-----

Depending on if this new midfield bloke is top, I would be very very happy with that squad to take us through to the next transfer window, where hopefully another midfielder and perhaps a top striker would complete it. Depth really is an issue though, when you consider City have on their bench Tevez, Lescott, Milner, Barry, Bellamy and Kolo Toure and United on their bench Berbatov, Owen, Park ji-Sung and Macheda and its clear the depth of our squad is stretched. But at least that starting line-up would stand up to anyone and be very very hard to beat.