The transfer window closed with Arsenal making no moves, which means that Almunia is Arsenal’s number one, at least until January. One move that was made today was Armand Traore has joined Juventus on loan for the 2010/2011 season. Juventus will then have an opportunity to buy Traore next summer.
So what did Arsenal do this summer? Heading into this transfer window it was pretty clear that Arsenal needed to get better defensively (defence and goalkepper) and that Robin van Persie needed some help up front.
Defensively Arsenal brought in Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci to replace Sol Campbell, William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre. Early days, but from what I have seen so far, Koscielny and Squillaci are an improvement over the three players that left.
In the summer Arsene Wenger criticized his three goalkeepers and I was positive that Arsenal would be getting a new number one. So I am shocked that Wenger has stayed with Almunia.
Overall the Arsenal defence looks better than it was last season but the goalkeeping situation still worries me.
In midfield Arsenal made no moves, although keeping Cesc Fabregas for at least one more season is like signing a new player. Hopefully with another year of experience Fabrgas and Wilshere can continue to improve.
Up front Arsenal finally landed Marouane Chamakh to help van Persie. I like Chamakh and believe that he will be a very good player for Arsenal once he settles. With Eduardo leaving this summer, Chamakh was basically an replacement for him and a step up for the Gunners.
So overall it was a good summer. I would grade it a B. Did not get the goalkeeper we wanted, but got everything else. How would you grade Arsenal deals this transfer window?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Quite simply an F!!!! AW has let the club and fans down as we will no doubt go another season without any silverware. Why does he insist on hiding his pocket money under his pillow…. Get it out and spend it, 30 mil could have changed us from a top 4 challenger into a title contender
Favourite line up?
OK, assuming all is well, everyone is fit and on form – what should be Arsenal’s starting XI?
Almunia
Sagna, Squillaci, Vermaelen, Clichy
Fabregas, Song, Nasri
Walcott, v Persie, Arshavin
Subs: Fabianski, Eboue, Koscielny, Gibbs, Diaby, Ramsey, Chamakh
For sure, we all knew AW was not going to sign new GK.
Last season and this season we spend 10M.
Very good business.
Keep it up………..
i believe Arsenal has a greater chance to lift a siverware this season. the arrival of chamack and the two defenders plus on form walcott is a fantastic boast.
overall, good buys and sells except for the fact that we are still stuck with Almunia as the first goalkeeper. at least until early next year. i shudder at that fact! only God will know how many mistakes will he make between now and then. no doubt, he WILL make mistakes. if i am wenger, i would have splash out 10 mil for Maarten Stekelenburg!