Sahin, Tiote, Biglia & M'Vila to Revive Arsenal

The departure of Alex Song to Barcelona, Arsenal's best midfielder from last season who was voted second place by Arsenal fans in the clubs player of the season poll was somewhat unexpected, and the player will leave behind a highly influential 14 assists which he provided last term for Arsenal. Now Arsene Wenger must find a player to replace the Cameroon international, and there are a number of players on Wenger's radar.

The most likely addition to Arsenal's squad will be the loan signing of Real Madrid's Turkish midfielder, Nuri Sahin. Wenger is apparently close to completing the signing of the 23 year-old, whose current manager at Madrid, Jose Mourinho, has admitted that England is a good place for his player to gain certain skills that he will be unable to gain on the bench in Spain.

On Sahin, Mourinho said: "The Premier League is a good place for players to pick up certain characteristics which he does not have. It is all the same to me though which club he goes to. I just hope that it happens soon for him, as it is best for him. Liverpool, Arsenal or Spurs, I have no preference."

Sahin will be cover for Wilshere, who has been suffering from a recurrent ankle injury which has seen him miss a significant amount of games for Arsenal. While Sahin's signing may not be on a permanent basis, it will add quality support and strength in depth to the Arsenal midfield which has been torn apart in the previous summer windows with the sales of Fabregas, Nasri and now Song.

Further reports suggest that Newcastle's Ivorian midfield enforcer, Chiek Tiote is also wanted by Wenger, who admires the 26 year-old's work rate and strength in the midfield which he showcased last season for the Toon, gathering interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea. The Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has himself admitted that he may be forced to sell some of his best players due to the impossibility of competeing in the market with the likes of United and City.

Pardew recently said: "I worry about losing all my players because we’re not Manchester United or Manchester City. We’re always vulnerable. I’m looking forward to September 1 now because by then we’ll all know where we are.”

However, Tiote's contract would prove difficult for Arsenal to buy out, with the midfielder signing a six year contract with Newcastle in early 2011, keeping him at the club until 2017. There are far easier, cheaper and more willing to leave options for Wenger to consider, such as the Anderlecht defensive midfielder from Argentina, Lucas Biglia.

Arsenal are in "pole position" to sign the 25 year-old who has repeatedly stated his desire to leave Anderlecht for a bigger club who are playing in Europe. He has said: "I can leave for €8million (£6.3million) in the current market. I agreed to this transfer fee myself. There are clubs ready to pay that amount but they are not better than Anderlecht so for now I focus on this club. I want to at least be playing in Europe."

Wenger has been watching Biglia for some time now, and it is believed that even if Arsenal do manage to complete the signing of Nuri Sahin, they will still attempt to bring Biglia to the Emirates as well in order to bolster midfield options.

One man who has also been tracked by Arsenal is Rennes' French midfielder Yann M'Vila. A deal has been rumoured since the beginning of the summer window after constant links in previous windows, and it is thought that the 21 year-old would be the ideal replacement for Alex Song, with the highly rated defensive midfielder considered very mature for his age and wanted by both Arsenal and Tottenham.

Rennes' club director Pierre Dreossi believes M'Vila will leave the French club soon, explaining that the £17 million rated players future "can be settled by the end of this week or the start of next." It is believed that a bid of around £16 million would see Rennes let their star man leave, so Arsenal's options are strong and plenty.

Sahin's signing seems a certainty, but it is whether or not any other midfielders will be added which is still in question considering Sahin would not be staying permanently and depth has often been an issue due to injuries at the London club. It is all down to Wenger.

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Giroud and M'Vila Head to Arsenal

Arsenal's ambitions next season will be plain for all to see with news that Wenger is very close to agreeing to the signings of both Olivier Giroud and Yann M'Vila.

The double French swoop by Wenger signals to Arsenal fans and in particular, the club captain Robin van Persie who is still considering his future with the club, that a title fight next season will be a realistic ambition.

Added fire-power in Giroud who joins Lukas Podolski in Arsenal's attacking ranks, as well as an assured defensive midfielder to shield the back four in the very talented Yann M'Vila will further push Van Persie for a decision on his future this summer with clubs reportedly interested in persuading him away.

M'Vila's signing would go some way to address the issue of conceding goals, solidifying the shape of Arsenal with his strength in the tackle and fantastic work-rate. He would be the protector of the back-four which last season conceded the most goals inside the top four of the League (49), and can also contribute to attacks, with impressive vision to set up breaks.

As I have addressed in previous articles on M'Vila, the 21 year-old is very mature for his age, both on and off the field, and has received plaudits for his excellent footballing characteristics, with the former French national team manager Raymond Domenech noticing that "his choices, his positioning and his distribution belonged to someone much older, more experienced."

A number of clubs have been interested in his signature from across Europe, with Manchester United previously linked, as well as Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus. If Arsenal can complete this signing, it would be a sure sign of improvement and stability at the club.

Olivier Giroud will obviously add a different dimension to the Arsenal set-up. He is a 25 year-old striker who was prolific for Montpellier last season, scoring 25 goals as well as assisting 9, helping his side to win the League - something Arsenal will certainly hope he can emulate in England. It is thought he would cost £12.8 million due to a reported release clause in his contract, despite his club valuing him at £37.2 million more.

Montpellier manager Rene Girard has said that not only is the player keen to move to England, but Arsenal are leading the chase with Wenger negotiating with Montpellier's club president: "Arsenal are very interested and Giroud wants to play in England, if Arsene agrees with the president, he will sign for them."


The deal looks to be near enough done, and Arsenal fans can begin to consider a front three of Podolski, Giroud and Van Persie next season, as can the Premier League's opposition defenders. More goals scored and less conceded whilst winning games is the aim for Arsenal, and to win some silverware will most likely come along the way. Is it enough for van Persie though?

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M'Vila to Arsenal - "Not True" says Wenger

Reports that Arsenal are "seriously considering" a club record deal for Rennes' French midfielder Yann M'Vila are premature and untrue according to Arsenal's manager, Arsene Wenger.

Rumours have been growing that not only had Arsenal made signing the highly rated 21 year-old defensive-midfielder a priority, but that the player had told friends that he wants a move to Wenger's side even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.

However, Wenger has countered this speculation by insisting that no such interest exists, no contact has been made and no player is close to signing for Arsenal at the present moment. He said:

''It is not true. There is not any interest at the moment." 

"We have not been in touch with anybody, we have not made any offer to anybody and we are nowhere near to buying anybody at the moment. We are focused on our final game of the season."

That final game of the season is away to West Brom, and a win must be achieved to secure third position in the League and therefore a Champions League spot next season.

Both Tottenham and Newcastle are close behind fighting for a third place finish, all well aware that because of Chelsea's chances of winning the Champions League trophy and therefore automatic qualification for next season, fourth place may not guarantee European football.

View the original article here

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Yann M'Vila Hints at Arsenal Move

Yann M'Vila will not be a Rennes player come the start of next season, but what is not entirely clear is which club will be able to call him their own.

However, the French defensive midfielder who has been tracked by a number of top clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United, has dropped an interesting hint that the Emirates Stadium may be his destination this summer. The 21 year-old said:

"Inter, Arsenal, Real ... I will take the fun everywhere! These are great clubs. If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything."

With a preference to play under a French coach, M'Vila seems to be suggesting that Arsene Wenger, well renowned for being someone who can, and quite often does get the best out of talented young players with promise, would be his favoured option to play under.

Wenger certainly admires the player, with interest paid to him last summer, but Rennes were unwilling to sell.

Circumstances have now changed, and with Rennes ready to sell, M'Vila is happy to talk about his options, continuing when asked about the suggestion that Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho had personally spoken to him about a move: “Mourinho calling me? he does not even have my number. But play at Real? Yeah, it would be an absolute blast! It would be great to play with Kaka and [Karim] Benzema.”

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