A Couple Of Transfer Links Cooling

Just a few bits of interesting Arsenal info today & most of it has to do with a couple of transfer links- one player link out, one player link in- for us cooling a bit while the Santi Cazorla link remains intriguing.

Let’s start with the player link going out & it belongs to the one & only transfer out that’s on everyone’s lips & that’s Robin Van Persie’s departure from Arsenal.  His proposed transfer linking him with a move to Serie A side, Juventus, seems to be losing some steam as La Signora Vecchia seems to be batting her eyes more in the direction of Man €iteh’s Edin Dzeko at the moment; from ESPN’s transfer blog:

08.45 BST: Juventus could abandon their attempts to sign Robin van Persie if the issue is not resolved quickly and instead turn their attentions to Manchester City’s Edin Djeko, the Mirror says.

Although signing Arsenal skipper Van Persie remains Juve’s priority, the club’s general manager, Giuseppe Marotta, has indicated that could change if the issue drags on.

Van Persie has been reported as being keen to move to the Italian side, but is also interesting both Manchester United and Manchester City. Earlier in the summer, the Netherlands international said he would not sign a new contract at the Emirates. His existing deal has a year left to run.

As always there may be some gamesmanship & negotiation tactics with Juve’s growing interest in Dzeko.  it could very well be a maneuver to lower RvP’s valuation by Arsenal or a move designed to force Arsenal’s hand.  Or Juve very well could be changing their attention to Dzeko.  Such is the silly circus of summer transfer season.

The link that’s cooling (not that it has been hot by any means) for a player possibly coming to Arsenal is Anderlecht’s Argentine striker, Matías Suárez:

14.03 BST: Argentine striker Matias Suarez, who had been briefly linked with Arsenal, is reportedly set for a €15 million move to CSKA Moscow.

I get two things out of that quote: 1. Suárez may not be coming to Arsenal & 2. if Matías Suárez is worth €15 million, then Robin van Persie is certainly worth €20 million & still a bargain at that price.  So cough up, suitors, or cock off!

A scouting report of sorts from The Mirror on possible/likely signing, Santi Cazorla.  Complete with highlight video with obligatory dance music.  Whoop whoop.  Cazorla’s transfer from Málaga does seem to be genuine interest from us as Mikel Arteta was talking him up earlier this morning as well. So, this seems to be a move that’s indeed in the works but it seems he won’t come cheap.  Which is “shocking,” of course. Fingers crossed.

Finally, what would a trip to the Far East be without some kung fu lessons?!  Theo & The Ox, starring in “Fast As A Theo, Strong As An Ox.”  Well played, The Mirror.  Well played.  Hopefully, the kung fu lessons will be put to use when we have to travel to Stoke & play those mouth-breathing orcs…

Arsenal will be kung-fu fiiiiiiiiiighting with wingers fast as lightninggggggg

Updated signing/departures list (updates in red):
Confirmed signings: Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Lukas Podolski (1. FC Köln)
Confirmed departures: Manuel Almunia (released- Watford?), Pedro Botelho (Atletico Paranaense), George Brislen-Hall (released), Alban Bunjaku (Sevilla), Joel Campbell (Real Betís-loan), Denílson (São Paulo-loan), Gavin Hoyte (released- Dagenham & Redbridge), Sean McDermott (released), Jeffrey Monakana (Preston North End), Rhys Murphy (Telstar Velsen), Oğuzhan Özyakup (Beşiktaş), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad), Sanchez Watt (released- Arsenal reserves?)

Likely signings: Santi Cazorla (Málaga), Mbaye Niang (Caen)
Likely departures: Andrei Arshavin (Al-Sadd [Qatar], Reading, Zenit Saint-Petersburg), Niklas Bendtner (Celta Vigo, Galatasaray, AC Milan), Marouane Chamakh (Beşiktaş, Fiorentina, Rubin Kazan, Valencia-loan), Łukasz Fabiański, Vito Mannone (Hull City), Chu/Ju-Young Park (Al-Ain [UAE]), Ryo Miyaichi (Bolton Wanderers-loan), Sébastian Squillaci (Bastia), Robin van Persie (AC Milan/Juventus/Manchester City/Manchester United)

Possible signings: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United), Lucas Biglia (RSC Anderlecht), Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Tongo Doumbia (Rennes), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Lewis Holtby (Schalke), Stéphane Mbia (Olympique Marseille), Kévin Mirallas (Olympiakos), Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic), Steven Nzonzi (Blackburn Rovers), Paulinho (Corinthians), Jese Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Salomon Rondon (Málaga), Matías Suárez (RSC Anderlecht), Kenneth Udjus (Sogndal), Emiliano Viviano (Palermo)
Possible departures: Benik Afobe (loan), Johann Djourou (Napoli), Conor Henderson (Charlton Athletic-loan), Henri Lansbury, Ignasi Miquel (Brighton & Hove Albion- loan), Aaron Ramsey (Fulham), Theo Walcott (Chelsea, Juventus, PSG)