Arsenal: Shopping for Quality

It's obvious that this transfer window will mostly (for Arsenal) revolve around whether or not club captain Cesc Fabregas stays at the Emirates, or returns to Barcelona.

Having seen the same transfer rumour in the headlines for the past three years, it's become clear now that Arsenal are considering offers. The most recent offer I've read is one of £35m + future incentives for the midfielder. While this offer values Fabregas as being of equal worth to the tall hippy at Liverpool that is Andy Carroll, it seems that Barcelona are unwilling to hold back on other transfers in order to provide the money Arsenal want.

Barcelona have reportedly been looking to sign Udinese star Alexis Sanchez, and it puzzles me why they are not offering how much Arsenal are wanting for Fabregas (around the £45m mark) when they are showing themselves to be capable of also making a large bid for Sanchez.

Whatever happens to Fabregas in this transfer window will obviously have an impact on Arsenal's transfers before the season begins. With Nasri refusing to commit himself to Arsenal  and Man Utd reportedly set to offer £20m for the Frenchman, the creative role at the Gunners is looking quite insecure right now, if you don't count the developing talent of Jack Wilshere.

Fans of Arsenal must have read the news yesterday with a smile of sorts though, with Spanish international, and U21 European Championship winning midfielder Juan Manuel Mata being labelled by The Sun and The Daily Mail, as Arsenal's priority purchase in this transfer window.

Juan Manuel Mata

Currently playing at Spanish outfit Valencia, he's a small player, which goes against what Wenger has been saying about Arsenal needing bigger players. His goal-scoring ability and assist record however is something which will have interested Wenger, given Arsenal's inability to find the net on a regular basis.

Along with Mata, Arsenal have also been linked with a creative midfielder in Ricardo Alvarez. He currently plays for Argentine club Velez Sarsfield, and while he hasn't had much time to prove himself as being "the next Fabregas", he's also been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
To be honest I've never seen him play, so I can't say whether or not he's the right man to fill Fabregas' shoes if he leaves, or if he's talented enough to be a regular Arsenal player. 

The same goes for Gervinho. I haven't seen him play too much (youtube does a good job at letting me see some of his best moments though), but unlike Alvarez, there are many who believe Gervinho will be positive signing if he does come to Arsenal. 

I'm a little confused though.

While Arsenal does need some better players in the midfield and up front, the main priority at the end of last season seemed to be for improvements in the defence, and in goals.

So far, Arsenal have been linked with defenders Gary Cahill and Chris Samba, who, while being tall and capable defenders, are not exactly the "big" signings that I'm sure some fans would have been expecting.

Out of those two players however, I'd prefer to see Samba at Arsenal, as he's priced at £12m by Blackburn, as opposed to Cahill, who, being English, is selling for an inflated price of what is suggested to be around  £18m.

And while I'm Gary Cahill is big (6ft 2in), he's not as big as Samba (6ft 4in). That doesn't mean anything in the effectiveness of the defender, I know, but Samba does look much more secure and imposing at the back than Cahill, and having stood about a metre or two away from Samba at the beginning of the year at the Sydney Football Stadium, I can easily say he is huge.

So, that leaves goalkeepers.

I haven't seen any rumours in the papers about goalkeepers coming to Arsenal. (Please somebody change this...even a rumour!). I do believe Almunia and Fabianski (aka: Flappy Handski's) will be on their way from Arsenal within the next season, but our young Polish, scrabble-letter named keeper Wojciech Szczesny will be around for a while I feel.

He performed quite well for Arsenal last season, however I believe a more prolific and commanding goalkeeper is necessary for Arsenal's defence to truly be coordinated and disciplined.

I've said it a few times before, but I think Hugo Lloris would be an excellent signing. Obviously though, he'd cost more than Wenger would dream of spending on a goalkeeper.

So, that's it for now. I've written things in no real order, and it's just been written as I've thought it, so apologies for the disorganised ramble!

Until next time.

Go the Gunners!

Returning from Neverland

As the uni break has now gotten underway, it's come to my attention that I suddenly don't have much at all to be doing...and it feels weird.

Having finished the first semester of the UTS Journalism course about two weeks ago now, I've had what can probably be labelled as my busiest week ever!

What made my week so busy? A theatrical performance of Peter Pan!

Over the past 2-3 months our group in the theatre society had been working very hard together at intense rehearsals every week to create a great show. Having spent countless hours going over scenes and changing pieces of the play that didn't quite work (eg: Awkward boat scene), we all seemed to develop a very unique and incredible friendship.

Our director, Michelle Sewell, summed things up quite well after our fourth and final show last Saturday, saying that she felt like we were just like a big family.

So many different personalities were mixed together, and so many days were shared where the performers almost felt like they were going to collapse in exhaustion. The number of hilarious moments we all shared would be almost impossible to count.

Every show we did was different, and every person who was involved in the performances gave so much of their own time and effort to make it work as well as it did.

From these shows I've learnt a lot not only about theatre and the process from reading the script to being under the lights. I've learnt a lot about friends and (yeah I know it's corny, but sshh) myself.

Prior to this show I had no real confidence on stage, and while I don't see myself as being a great actor, I find myself enjoying the experience of being on a stage and performing not only for the audience, but for the other cast members too.

This cast has been fantastic. Our first show was on Wednesday, which was also my birthday, and they all gave me a birthday I can never forget.

Walking into the theatre after having lunch with Sophia, Sharon and Gina (thankyou for shouting Sophia!), I was welcomed by lots of hugs and a "Happy Birthday" song. After this I was then provided with multiple blown-up balloons (thanks Jake!), which included a huge birthday hat, swords, and in accordance with my "I thought it was only flowers that die" line from the play, a nice collection of balloon flowers.

Many many mini cupcakes were then handed around (Thanks Cecilia!), and I was also given two bars of chocolate :) (thanks Sami!).

After the show, they again sung "Happy Birthday" to me, and handed me an amazing card which they had written in. Still, after this, I was shouted many drinks when we went out partying in the city.

So, with Peter Pan now finished, and the empty feeling of not being so incredibly busy with all these people sinking in, it's time to look forward to next semesters shows, and to say thank you so much for the many many memories from this show.