Arsenal Assess Trialists

Perez (R) tweeted a picture with Thomas Vermaelen during his trial

By Nick Lander

 

In amongst all the speculation over big name signings, Arsenal have also invited a number of players for trials with the club. Colombian midfielder Sebastian Perez and Moroccan Alharbi El-Jadeyaoui, also a midfielder are understood to currently be training with the first team squad and United Arab Emirates international Omar Abdulrahman is believed to be wanted for a trial by Arsene Wenger.

 

20-year-old Perez currently plays for Atlético Nacional. He made his senior debut in 2011 and has gone on to make more than 50 appearances for them, also winning the Colombian top flight this season. Mostly deployed as a defensive midfielder, he is described on the Atlético Nacional website as being a good passer of the ball with good vision and as adept at taking long shots. Valued by his club at around £5m, a deal is very possible for the Colombian U20 international, who would likely go straight into the first team squad.

 

El-Jadeyaoui would represent Arsenal's second capture from the French Ligue 2 this summer, the 26-year-old is a centre midfielder for Angers. The Moroccan weighed in with 10 assists and four goals last season and is said to be at London Colney with Perez on trial at the moment. A full international, L'Equipe report that El-Jadeyaoui will be with Arsenal for two days. The left-footed playmaker is reportedly valued at £3m by Angers, who withdrew him from their squad to face Istres over the weekend so he would be fit for his trial.

 

It has also been reported that Arsenal are in a race with Barcelona and Shalke to secure Omar Abdulrahman. The UAE international was supposed to be on trial with the Gunners this week, but his club Al Ain pulled him out. Deputy chairman of Al Ain, Rashid bin Mubarak Al Hajri, said, "Have we had an offer from Arsenal for him to come to train? Then yes. We've also had offers from Spanish teams, and other teams also, but the player will decide ultimately. We got a lot of offers for Omar. If he finds the right environment, then we will be very supportive. It's a package that will have to be right, where he can improve his football. I'll leave that for Omar - that's for him to decide."

It remains to be seen if Arsenal will manage to negotiate a trial for the 21-year-old, who impressed many at last year's Olympic games.

Whilst activity in the transfer market will undoubtedly placate many Arsenal fans, none of these players really represent the big name signing that Gooners so crave, with any move for Luis Suarez still seemingly stalled and with some sizeable obstacles to overcome were Wenger to decide to move for Wayne Rooney.

You can keep up to date with the window by following me on Twitter (@nlander94) and by liking The N5 Blog on Facebook.

Should Arsenal move for this keeper?

 

By Nick Lander

 

In 2011/12 Wolverhampton Wanderers had a disastrous season, relegated amidst managerial turmoil, few players had seasons to remember. One player impressed however, goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

 

The Welsh international only managed 3 clean sheets on the way to the Championship, but made 165 saves, 69.3% of all the shots taken at him. Sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury at the latter end of 11/12, Hennessey missed the entirety of last season, but is now back from injury and languishing in League 1. Talking after his return to action in pre-season a couple of weeks ago, Hennessey told Wolves' Official website "I fell perfect, touch wood. I haven't felt any discomfort whatsoever. I've told the physios it's the best I've ever felt and I've felt really good in the games as well."

 

There has been much talk of Arsenal brining in a new goalkeeper to truly challenge Wojciech Szczesney for the number 1 jersey, with QPR's Julio Cesar the name most frequently mentioned, I think that it would be well worth Arsenal's while taking a chance on the 26-year-old, who would surely be available for less than £1m.

 

Whilst some might question the ambition of the signing, he would surely be an improvement on Lukasz Fabianski, who continues to have serious question marks over his ability.

 

I would certainly like to see Arsene Wenger make a move for the Welshman, would you?

 

You can follow me on Twitter (@nlander94) and like the N5 Blog Facebook page here.

Vietnam 1-7 Arsenal

 

By Nick Lander

 

Arsenal bagged seven goals in successive matches, as they romped to a comfortable victory in Vietnam. Playing a team ranked 145th in the world by FIFA, there was only going to be one outcome, but it was a momentous occasion for Vietnamese football, as the Gunners became the first Premier League team to visit the country.

 

Olivier Giroud opened the scoring on five minutes, as he took his shot early, having made a good run. Fifteen minutes later, Lukas Podolski almost doubled Arsenal's advantage, as he headed narrowly over from Serge Gnabry's cross. Podolski had another chance soon after. He took on the Vietnam defence in the penalty area, beating two players (much like Samir Nasri against Fulham a couple of seasons ago) but tried to set Giroud rather than taking the shot himself.

 

Podolski then spurned a third chance before the break, hitting the post after a through ball split the Vietnamese defence, with the goalkeeper saving well from Gnabry's follow up.

 

Just when it was beginning to look like Arsenal might only head into the break one goal to the good, up stepped Giroud. Vietnam only half-cleared Carl Jenkinson's cross and the big Frenchman curled it home from inside the D.

 

Three minutes later, he completed his hat-trick, sumptuously lifting the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's through ball again split the Vietnam back line. Three-nil at half time then.

 

A raft of changes at the break followed, but it was one of the few surviving players from the first half who got the next goal, as the Ox slammed Theo Walcott's cut back into the top left corner from just outside the box.

 

Chamberlain was not finished there, moments later he surged forward and played Chuba Akpom in, but the young striker could not quite shape his shot around the goalkeeper. On 55 minutes though, Akpom made no mistake. Vietnam tried to spring the offside trap, but Aaron Ramsey's through ball for Akpom was perfectly timed and this time the ball did curve around the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Five-nil.

 

Akpom's second was created by 16-year-old Gedion Zelalem who had great vision to pick out Oxlade-Chamberlain's run. The Vietnam defence again beaten by a through ball, Chamberlain squared the ball back to Akpom, who fired the ball home with the outside of his boot.

 

Akpom could have had a hat-trick too, Zelalem unselfishly cut the ball back for the Englishman, who tried to put the ball in the top corner, but it deflected over for a corner. Walcott took the resulting set piece and Mertesacker's header was well saved by Tran Buu Ngoc in the Vietnam goal.

 

The Gunners' last of the game was one of the best worked, Ignasi Miquel interchanged well with Thomas Eisfeld on the left wing and coolly slotted home.

 

The stadium erupted soon after though, as Tran Manh Dung excellently turned home. A cross came in slightly behind him but he still managed to superbly loop it over Damien Martinez's head. A brilliant finish.

 

That was not the end of Martinez's work either, Le Cong Vinh struck a good free kick minutes later, which the Argentine goalkeeper saved well. His opposite number's night would not end so glamorously however, as Buu Ngoc was shown red when he saved one-on-one with his hands outside of his area. He had to walk, friendly or not. A substitute himself, Vietnam had no 'keeper left on the bench and had to give gloves and a bib to one of their outfield players, who, perhaps ironically, was the only Vietnam goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on the night!

 

There were to be no more goals though and Arsenal recorded another comfortable victory. The game however, is unlikely to be the most remembered part of Arsenal's time in Vietnam. That honour is more likely to go to 'The Running Man' who chased the Arsenal team bus on foot for around 5km, before being allowed on board! You can view the video here.

 

The squad are now in Japan, as their Asia tour continues with games against Arsene Wenger's former club Nagoya Grampus and then Urawa Red Diamonds.

 

You can keep up with all the action by liking the Facebook page and by following me on Twitter - @nlander94.

Indonesia Dream Team 0-7 Arsenal

By Nick Lander

Arsenal romped to a comfortable seven-nil victory in the opening game of this year's Asia Tour.

Theo Walcott got the gunners underway in the first half, slotting home with composure from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's pull back. Kieran Gibbs then spurned a golden opportunity to double the Gunners' lead scuffing his shot into the side netting when he really should have scored.

Ignasi Miquel then almost let Boaz Solossa in for the home side, but the Indonesian captain struck tamely into Fabianski's arms.

Despite dominating possession and the having many more chances, Arsenal could only take a 1-0 lead into the break, but everything changed after half-time.

Chuba Akpom bagged Arsenal's second of the night on 54 minutes, deftly finishing a move he started, turning home Serge Gnabry's low cross.

Five minutes after his second half introduction, Olivier Giroud turned home fellow substitute Bacary Sagna's cross, netting his second minutes later, with an excellent turn in the box.

Four-nil Arsenal, but the Gunners were not finished there. Podolski hammered the ball home for number five just a few minutes later, after some good link up play with Tomas Rosicky. A minute after that, Kris Olsson poked home Rosicky's delicious deep cross.

Thomas Eisfeld then got Arsenal's seventh, slamming home left footed.

A good evening's work for the Gunners, who will now embark on the next leg of their tour, when they will be playing the Vietnam national team on Wednesday.

Keep up to date with all the latest Arsenal new by following me on Twitter - @nlander94 - and liking The N5 Blog Facebook page.

Mannone Joins Sunderland

 

By Nick Lander

 

Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone has today finalised a move to the North East to join Paolo di Canio's Sunderland.

 

The 25-year-old has signed a two year deal for an undisclosed fee, said to be around £2million. Mannone, who made 23 appearances for the Gunners, will be a replacement for Simon Mignolet, who joined Liverpool at the end of last month.

 

The move brings to an end an eight year association with the club he joined as a 17-year-old from Atalanta. He impressed many, with a sterling performance at Fulham back in 2009, winning Arsenal the game, on just his third Premier League appearance. However, that was his peak, and some uninspiring performances, most notably as a substitute against Olympiakos in 2011/12, signalled that an exit was nearing. Mannone also experienced loan spells with Barnsley and Hull (twice).

 

As Arsene Wenger's clear-out continues, it is widely expected that Nicklas Bendtner will also depart this week, with Eintracht Frankfurt on the verge of agreeing a £4m deal.

 

Keep up to date with Arsenal's transfer window dealings by liking The N5 Blog on Facebook and by following me on Twitter - @nlander94.

Hamburg Secure Djourou Loan

 

By Nick Lander

 

Arsenal defender Johan Djourou will be spending the season on loan at Hamburg.

 

The Swiss played the latter half of last season on loan with Hamburg's Bundesliga rivals, Hannover 96, and will be returning to Germany for at least another year, after Hamburg secured an option to buy the centre back at the conclusion of his loan deal in June 2014.

 

Talking to Hamburg's website, Djourou had this to say about his motives for moving: "It was a perfect fit. The sporting perspectives were very enticing. I could have earned a lot more money in London but that was not the main thing. I want to play as often as possible and I think I can do that in Hamburg."

 

Djourou joined the Gunners back in 2003 and has made 144 appearances for the club, scoring one goal. In addition to Hamburg and Hannover, the 26-year-old has also spent time on loan with Birmingham City.

 

He is the second central defender that Arsenal have parted company with since the end of last season, with Sebastien Squillaci having also departed the club, after his contract expired.

 

Keep up to date with all the latest Arsenal news by following me on Twitter - @nlander94 - and by liking The N5 Blog on Facebook.

Transfer latest: Gervinho, Rooney, Nani, Garcia, Williams & others

 

 



By Nick Lander

 

 

At the Back

It is being reported that Arsene Wenger's interest in Swansea's Ashley Williams has cooled, after the Welsh club demanded more than £10m for the centre half. It is however understood that the Gunners would be very much interested if the Swans would consider parting with their Captain for less than that £10m figure.

Another centre back that Arsenal have been linked with is Valencia's Adil Rami. The French international is likely to leave La Liga this summer, with Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Napoli all being linked with moves too. Valencia are understood to rate the 27-year-old at around £10m.

Midfield Shields

With many fans having spent most of 2012/13 screaming out for a more defensive minded midfielder following Alex Song's departure to Barcelona, links to Everton's Marouane Fellaini have been welcomed.

The Belgian's £24m buy-out clause is said to be a big stumbling block to Arsenal's interest, who do not value him that highly. The 25-year-old has been on Merseyside for the last five years, but is reported to be keen on a move to London in order to secure Champions League football.

It has also been suggested that Wenger is considering expanding his Spanish contingent yet further, by bringing in Real Sociedad's Asier Illarramendi. The 22-year-old has just won the Euro u21 Championships with Spain, and has a release clause of €30m. Real Madrid are interested in him too, but feel that his release clause is too high and Arsenal will likely feel the same. It is possible that a fee might be agreed far lower than this though, with a number of sources quoting a figure closer to £10m.

With both Illarramendi and Fellaini being expensive options, Arsenal decide to look elsewhere. Whilst the club have not been linked with a move, and he is not a defensive midfielder, I understand that Japanese international Keisuke Honda is out of contract with CSKA Moscow, and would surely be worth a move. Wenger praised the 27-year-old widely during the 2010 World Cup and the Gunners were linked with a move at the time.

On the Wings

Arsenal have emerged as favourites to land Nani from United, with Galatasaray having announced that their interest in him is over. The Portuguese winger is understood to be available for around £8m, with just a year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford. Largely frozen out of the United side by Ferguson last season, because of contract disputes, the Gunners were reported to have been considering a move back in the January window, and could return this summer.

Nani is not the only winger who has recently been linked with a move to N5 though, with speculation still existing with regards to an £8.5m move for Levante winger Ruben Garcia. The 19-year-old chalked up an impressive 41 appearances last season, also bagging 4 La Liga goals, as Levante finished 11th. He has also previously been quoted as saying he is "interested in joining Arsenal."

Lille's Dimitri Payet has also been linked. The 26-year-old managed 10 goals and 10 assists last season, and Lille are said to be willing to consider offers of £15m, with Marseille understood to have already failed with an £8m bid. His record last season, however, is worse than that of Gervinho's over his last season at Lille, so perhaps the club should proceed with caution!

 

In a transfer that would likely be closely related to any move, it has also become increasingly likely that Arsenal winger Gervinho will be headed back to France, after two disappointing seasons in North London, with Marseille having confirmed their desire to take him back across the Channel.

Personally, out of those four wingers, I would prefer to see Garcia in the Arsenal squad next season. Despite being young, the Spaniard has already amassed good experience in the Spanish top-flight, and would slot nicely into the growing Spanish contingent at Arsenal. He would also likely be the cheapest option, both in terms of wages and transfer fee, something which would almost certainly appeal to the Gunners, despite their greater financial flexibility this summer.

Up Front

Speculation has been mounting over the past few weeks over Arsenal preparing a move for want-away Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who, according to his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, has submitted his second transfer request inside of three years.

Rooney is said to be available for just £20m and both Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis have passed comment on him in recent weeks. Wenger expressed his admiration for the Englishman, whilst Gazidis emphasised the club's ability to pay a transfer fee of that magnitude and meet his £200,000 per week wages.

Alternatively, Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain could be on the verge of joining the club, with some sources reporting that personal terms have been agreed. The deal is said to be worth in excess of £130,000 per week and Arsenal are trying to push it through before they depart on their 2013 Asia Tour in around three weeks. A fee of around £22m is reportedly close to being finalised with Real Madrid.

 

On Their Way Out

Danish flop Nicklas Bendtner is set to finally make a permanent move away from Arsenal, having spent the past two seasons on loan at Sunderland and then Juventus - where he scored a magnificent zero goals. Despite this he is said to have at least five offers on the table, with La Liga side Malaga and Eintracht Frankfurt of the Bundesliga both extremely interested in a cut price deal at around £2m.

Another striker who may not be at the club next season is Costa Rican Joel Campbell. Ian Holloway's Crystal Palace have been reported to be interested in taking the 20-year-old on a season-long loan. Having racked up 60 appearances on loan at Lorient and Real Betis over the last two seasons, along with 24 international caps, a work permit should no longer be a problem, but it remains to be seen if Arsene Wenger will decide that a third season spent on loan would be more beneficial than a season spent warming the bench, especially if one of Higuain or Rooney arrives.

In what promises to be an exciting summer, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@nlander94) and like The N5 Blog Facebook page.