I wondered whether there would ever be a transfer saga to top that of Julio Baptista in 2005. I think the BBC announced on about five separate occasions that we'd signed him, before sheepishly revealing he'd gone to Madrid.
And then there was Nasri this summer, although being able to read L'Equipe everyday re-assured me that the deal was going through.
But I think the Arshavin saga has trumped them all, for sheer durability and ridiculousness. Every hour for about a month there's been new stories appearing in both the UK and Russian media about the deal.
The speculation hasn't been helped by the, frankly, bizzare, Dennis Lachter. This man seems quite happy to give out details about the Arshavin deal, or lack of one, to everybody and anyone who drops him an email or a text. To be frank, I don't believe a word he says, but that's just my opinion.
Nor has it been helped by Sky Sports News. This channel thrives on transfers - the one time it actually gets decent viewing figures - so they have spun the story out at every opportunity, especially as, aside from the Keane transfer, this is probably the only big transfer that might go through today. And on at least 75% of the occasions they've brought us an 'exclusive' about the deal, they've been wrong.
So, after falsely claiming Arshavin was in London the other day, they finally got it right this morning, showing Arshavin in snowy Hertfordshire after jetting in from Petersburg, before now claiming, along with most other media outlets that Arshavin has gone home after failing to seal a deal.
I simply refuse to believe that Arshavin would fly in to London, wake up, see the deal break down definitively, and then fly home all before lunchtime. And so despite the majority of the print media claiming that Arshavin has gone home, both 5 Live and sources within the Arsenal Supporters Trust are both claiming that Arshavin is still negotiating in London, with the AST source (credit to the Online Gooner for this) saying Arshavin is in Highbury House as you read this.
For me, the logistics of the transfer mean a deal is surely more likely than not at this point.
Petersburg aren't going to find another buyer at this point, and they're not going to get £15m+ for him from anyone else after today, as Arshavin's value starts to decline due to the state of his contract and the fact he hasn't really played of late as he's clearly lost motivation over whether to play for the club.
Especially given he's probably agreeing personal terms as we speak, the ball is in our court. I should imagine Zenit will agree to a slight decrease in the fee and he'll be pronounced our player at around 6 PM this evening.
More than anything else, this is because I find it inconceivable that we will go through this transfer window without signing anyone. For Wenger not to strengthen our squad after the tepid performances we've seen so far this season would be seriously worrying.
Arshavin is a class act and can help us solidify our top four place this season. While Arsene was right to state that no one player can be a 'saviour', he could at least save us from seeing the likes of Diaby, Eboue or Denilson shoved out onto the flanks. For that alone, I'm patiently hoping and waiting for the deal to go through.
More reaction to the transfer window as news becomes apparent.
But for now:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
22 comments:
well said,
i thought exactly the same when skysports started saying it was all off, this just made no sense, he's not going to fly in for half an hour and then just bugger off!
someone may well end up with a lot of egg on their face by the end of the day!
Whether or not this actually turns out to be correct, I have to say that this is a completely rational and convincing assessment of the state of play. It beggars belief that AA would fly in at all unless there was a very strong chance it was going to happen - and given today's whether he surely isn't on a plane anywhere at the moment.
Like the video.
Very Reliable source : Arshavin deal is officially off arsenal has originally told zenit that they were prepared to match the £15 million asking price but after a board meeting it was suggested that if arsenal signed him and didn’t make champions league there was a massive financial risk so deal is completly over
Hmm, who's your source Connor, that doesn't seem plausible.
good analysis on the current matter. but i think the deal hangs on the fact that his personal terms are way above the current maximum of the wage structure... i think this is the deciding factor
It seems odd that our game tomorrow has already been postponed. As they say it is due to the safety to the travelling fans.. I reckon they have jumped at postponing it as they are sure this deal isn't going though & they fear the backlash. Arsenal are getting ridiculous now. I love spending £4k a year following them around and continually being disapointed.
We will feeling a lot sicker when he signs for spurs later today
Lets keep our fingers crossed. The likes of Connor are prophets of doom
What sky sports seem to have forgotten (in their eagerness to report lies and half truth to boost thier viewings) is that all airports and runways have closed flights in and outbound due to the snow! Don't worry fellow gooners I have ben informed by a close friend who has a hand in arranging the arsenal medicals that arshavin is due to be having his in the next hour, he also informed me that they have been put on standby for a second medical appointment late this afternoon he could not disclose a name, but could it be possible we wait a whole month and 2 signings come along at once!?!? Keep the faith guys.
Come on arsenal prove your commitment to the cause.
How good is this source!!!
I was soo shocked when i heard that he was on his way home!! but i didnt think that was true!! have to hope and pray!!!
ps hes staying at the village hotel in elstree!!
It makes no sense whatsoever for Arshavin to fly into London today if everyone wasn't VERY close to sorting personal terms.
You just wouldn't be miles apart and then have a player show up on the final day of the window with the club, the agent, the seller and everyone else hoping for a miracle.
That's crazy.
As for Conor's little drama, that might be the silliest scenario I've ever heard. Imagine a board meeting TODAY -- hours before the deadline -- to prattle on about the financial risk.
Give me a break.
Everyone at Arsenal has known the price range -- and Arshavin's wage demands -- forever.
Both sides are trying to sweeten the pot a tiny bit at the finish line. Arshavin probably wants gurantees and Arsenal is offering as much in incentives as the club can get away with.
As always with negotiations, they'll meet somewhere in the middle.
Something I really need to say, though, as am American who has moved to Scotland -- and is now a diehard member of the Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club.
There are plenty of things wrong with the media in the States, but I've NEVER seen the nonsense that goes on in Britain with radio, TV and Web outlets just MAKING UP STORIES THAT THEY KNOW TO BE FALSE.
Anything to make a viewer or listener hang on and wait for the next report -- and none of them mean anything.
Even respectable papers like the Guardian yank these phony reports off the Web and say "it has been reported by sources close to the player, etc."
They KNOW it's all crap and run it anyway.
The media in American can be irresponsible and make mistakes by being in a rush, that sort of thing.
But I've never seen story after story after story where the newspaper or TV outlet or blogger KNOWS it's a lie and claims to be telling the truth -- yet that's the media in Britain, and here it happens every damn day.
Oh, finally -- somebody asked why Arsenal postponed the Cardiff game so quickly.
My guess it's because RVP picked up a knock and they really want to stay alive in the FA Cup this year. We need him back -- and hey, maybe they can have Arshavin ready to play, as well.
Postpone everything until summer, if you can. Get EVERYONE healthy.
Cheers!
he's not at the Village hotel but infact at The Beales Hotel in Hatfield.
very unreliable but a source indicating that we have at last signed him.
http://life.ru/rubric/1
It says : Arshavin] - in “the arsenal”! It was achieved! The saga on passage of one lasted half a year of the leader team Russia and St. Petersburg “zenith” into the London “arsenal” was completed for several hours for closings of winter transfer market in Europe. 27-year football player agree- after all the sum of his wages placed signature under the contract with one of the best clubs of England. Now to Andrey it remained for the last time before the appearance in the British fields to arrive into Russia in order to gather things, to take with itself young to husband, two fascinating kiddies and to be requested with the club, which made from it a football player of world class - St. Petersburg “zenith”.
Commission As known our portal became, transaction was tightened in many respects because of the medical board. The first inspection caused in the physicians “of arsenal” several questions concerning the work of heart. Therefore today early in the morning For [arshavinu] again it was necessary to visit the training base “of gunners” in [Kolni], which is located not far from the hotel in [Khertfordshire] where it stopped Andrey and his agent Denis [Lakhter]. To the happiness for all, the repeated deep commission showed that the football player is completely ready to the stressed matches of English premier- leagues. Season After resting in all the pair of weeks after the stressed year, which brought to Andrey victory in the goblet of the UEFA, bronze medal of the championship of Europe 2008 and victory in the European super cup above the terrible “Manchester United”, For [arshavinu] again one must after squeezing teeth fight for the highest rewards, now already in the best club superiority of old world. - [Arshavin] must help us to conquer place in the troika, stated the head coach “of gunners” [Arsen] Of [venger]. - There are now in the command many traumatized. We were deprived of our captain more than for the month, and remaining players are too young. Experimental 27-year [Arshavin] - that it is necessary for us precisely now. Andrey conducted last two seasons during one respiration, resting only snatches. Even teacher “of zenith” Dick [Advokat] on the pre-seasonal collections was sorry one of his pets, after leaving him beside the stressed trainings. - In [Arshi] it was issued heavy season, explained Dutchman. - Now to him it is necessary thoroughly to rest.
Let's pinch Keane from under the noses of the scum, what a laugh!!
i think he is in the post house in south mimms, thats where they keep the big brother evictees, and it is equidistant between colney and the grove
Scotland Steve - I seem to remember a tiny little series of stories that were blatant lies in the US press that makes the lies of the UK media pale in comparison -
The lies that were purposely put into the press leading up to the War in Iraq. ;-)
If he signs then that fine but im not particularly bothered. our main priority is for a big commanding central defender and a holding midfielder with leadership qualities. This has been apparent for years and wenger has failed to address this. Those of you who cannot abide any criticism of wenger fail to comprehend how crutial a season this is. if we fail to win anything or more important for some, fail to get into the champions league, do you really think Fabergas, RVP,Adebayor will be there when Barcelona, real madrid comes calling. I dont think so. Wenger is genius manager but is so frustrating to hear him coming out with the same old excuses. last season when we were leading the league all the pundits predited that our squad needed a couple of astute signings to see us over the finishing line. the pundits were right and wenger was wrong. under his stewardship,his brilliance saw us as the only serious rivals to the appalling manu. we are not 4th in the pecking order and struggling to hold off villa. the blame for this can only be placed on the man in charge.
Some of you are quite mad, Arsenal have no power over postponing games, where in the hell did you get that idea????
good analysis goonerboy. your predictions have pretty much been proven correct with hindsight. perhaps you should have had a little flutter on the lotto today aswell?!
i love the way the russians tried to play hard ball and got totally turned over by Arsene. brilliant. and now they are claiming in the russian media that the deal is worth 'well over 12million.' are you sure Mr Russian, or are u just embarrased at the way you have conducted negotiations and allowed Arshavin to leave your club for a similar price to that which Middlesboro paid to secure the services of Afonso Alves!
Arsene, you hero.
good analysis goonerboy. your predictions have pretty much been proven correct with hindsight. perhaps you should have had a little flutter on the lotto today aswell?!
i love the way the russians tried to play hard ball and got totally turned over by Arsene. brilliant. and now they are claiming in the russian media that the deal is worth 'well over 12million.' are you sure Mr Russian, or are u just embarrased at the way you have conducted negotiations and allowed Arshavin to leave your club for a similar price to that which Middlesboro paid to secure the services of Afonso Alves!
Arsene, you hero.
good analysis goonerboy. your predictions have pretty much been proven correct with hindsight. perhaps you should have had a little flutter on the lotto today aswell?!
i love the way the russians tried to play hard ball and got totally turned over by Arsene. brilliant. and now they are claiming in the russian media that the deal is worth 'well over 12million.' are you sure Mr Russian, or are u just embarrased at the way you have conducted negotiations and allowed Arshavin to leave your club for a similar price to that which Middlesboro paid to secure the services of Afonso Alves!
Arsene, you hero.
Post a Comment