Arsenal, Chelsea, Euro 2008, La Liga, Liverpool
Exceptional Villa can bring an end to Arsenal’s profligacy
Arsenal are not beset by goal-scoring problems but profligacy in front of goal has been a consistent issue as the club endeavour to pick up their first trophy since 2005. David Villa has been touted as the answer and Spaniard is set to leave Valencia in the summer, with Arsene Wenger poised to move for the striker.
Arsenal are not beset by goal-scoring problems – they are second highest scorers in the Premier League – but profligacy in front of goal has been a consistent issue as the club endeavour to pick up their first trophy since 2005.
Arsène Wenger’s side have often been lamented for their desire to ‘walk the ball’ into the net and, apart from Emmanuel Adebayor, no player has reached double figures for league goals.
With only two wins in their last thirteen matches, Arsenal’s season imploded in just two months. Their failure to finish off games when ahead or make an early breakthrough against weaker opposition proved critical in their failure to secure any silverware.
Hence, Arsenal are reported to be on the search for a new striker.
Adebayor has notched 21 goals in the league (27 in total) but still manages to infuriate supporters with his knack of missing gilt edged opportunities while sometimes seeming to have an apathetic attitude when he is not getting the desired service from his team-mates or if Arsenal are toiling. At 24, he has not yet peaked but more will be expected of the Togolese giant next campaign.
Eduardo began to demonstrate his excellent ball skills and greater confidence in dealing with the rigours of the Premier League before his horrific injury, totalling 12 goals. Yet he was often utilised on the flanks and questions over whether he is potent enough linger. Most crucially however is that the Croat will be out until the early months of 2009 and Arsenal cannot wait.
David Villa could be the answer.
The Valencia hitman has signalled his intention to leave the club at the end of the season having previously given them an ultimatum to win a major trophy or else he was likely to request a transfer. The midweek Copa del Rey triumph hands him one winner’s medal, but the competition is not highly revered and Villa is desperate for either a league title or European silverware.
Most critically, Valencia have failed to make next season’s Champions League – although they will participate in the Uefa Cup after success in the domestic cup. Ronald Koeman has rocked the boat considerably since taking over early in the season, leading to player discontent and ongoing internal rows, and Los Che could yet be relegated following an abysmal campaign.
‘El Guahe’ is 26 and about to enter his peak years. He is a key man for Spain and will lead the line at Euro 2008 in the summer alongside the on-fire Fernando Torres, who is starring for Liverpool. Villa commented, “It’s great playing alongside Fernando. We understand each other totally.” Spain are tipped as one of the favourites, and Villa has apparently been swung towards a move to the Premier League by Torres’s great success in his debut season.
Deceptively quick and brilliantly accurate, Villa provides the predatory instincts for Valencia that Arsenal are desperate to find. He has averaged 21 goals a season over the last three years and is exceptionally good in the air for a player of only 1.75m but has not been aided by the constant turmoil at his current employers which has hindered any serious title ambitions since Rafael Benítez’s departure in 2004.
Wenger has money to spend, but hinted that only minor changes to the squad will be made over the summer months. Villa would cost in the region of £13-18m, a considerable investment in Arsenal terms but a price that would be considered a bargain for a top-class forward in today’s climate.
Whether Wenger’s words can be taken at face value is questionable. Arsenal are set to lose Jens Lehmann, Gilberto and Mathieu Flamini at the end of the campaign, Phillipe Senderos is likely to be sold, the futures of Emmanuel Eboué and Nicklas Bendtner are uncertain and the club will have to fend off bids for highly-rated midfielder Alexander Hleb, wanted by Juventus and Milan.
Adebayor is not yet ready to replace Henry as a regular 30 goals per season striker, and Wenger cannot forever rely on the rest of his players to chip in with a few goals. Twelve players have notched two goals or more in the league, but the nearest to Adebayor is midfield maestro Cesc Fàbregas on just seven, and his primary role is to control the midfield and set-up chances for others.
Adebayor has managed to break the mould at Arsenal with his policy of shooting on-site, and not endlessly passing to others until, more often the not, the chance has vanished and the ball is heading up to the other end of the field. Yet he is not lethal enough, as recent missed opportunities in vital games against Liverpool and Manchester United have revealed, and Wenger has to fill that void before next season.
Villa recently revealed that the Valencia president “always told me he wouldn’t sell me until summer 2008. If an offer comes in I’m hungry to test myself in England.” Yet Valencia changed their president just last month – with the widely detested Juan Soler departing to be replaced by Agustin Morera – and it appears Villa was referring to a long-standing promise, suggesting Soler made it rather than Morera. Villa is Valencia’s most high-profile player and Morera acknowledges that selling him would heavily affect the club’s chances of challenging for La Liga next season.
Whatever the situation, Villa, who threatened to leave a year ago, is said to be disgruntled at Valencia’s lack of progress and is said to be ready to demand a move. If Arsenal do not change their stance, both Barcelona and Real Madrid are ready to make offers while Chelsea are the only other English club interested. Villa, however, appeared to snub the club when stating, “I watch the Premier League a lot and the team I’m most attracted to is definitely Arsenal” and then implying playing alongside Torres at Liverpool would be his second option, although Benítez seems to have ruled out any deal after splurging heavily in last summer’s window on a new strike-force.
Wenger has asserted that Arsenal “are not in the transfer market for David Villa and will not make concrete investigations for anyone at the moment” but should he receive news directly from the striker’s employers that they would be willing to sell, as looks increasingly probable, he would be unlikely to immediately reject the opportunity.
The danger for the long-standing coach is that if he procrastinates too long and Villa excels at Euro 2008, the Spaniard’s value will soar beyond Arsenal’s reach – as Torres’s did after his excellent performances at the World Cup in 2006, thwarting Manchester United’s attempts to buy him – and he will go elsewhere.
A predatory forward ought to be high on Wenger’s shopping list after another trophyless season; a campaign where Arsenal have frequently failed to win because of their inability to take goal-scoring opportunities with any regularity.
Is David Villa the answer for Arsenal? Is Adebayor good enough?
Share your views and leave a comment below.
Tags: Arsene Wenger, David Villa, Emmanuel Adebayor, Euro 2008, Ronald Koeman, Spain, Valencia
Related Articles
Discussion
32 comments for “Exceptional Villa can bring an end to Arsenal’s profligacy”
Post a comment
Welcome to Footballing World
Recent Posts
Categories
In Focus
Rafael Da Silva - a seemingly unknown 18-year-old twin snapped up by Manchester United in January. But after starring once again in United's victory over Aalborg, Da Silva is hot property - and is a genuine full-time contender for the right-back spot.
Featured Posts
A review of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers across Europe over the last five days as France toil, England impress and Italy struggle, while there is good news for the continental minnows.
Theo Walcott enjoyed the perfect evening as he tore apart the Croatian defence in England's impressive victory.
Sir Alex Ferguson at last got his man - Dimitar Berbatov arrived at Old Trafford at a hefty price but one, Oli Dinsmore believes, will be repaid in quick time by the talented Bulgarian.
Arsene came out today and said he is not on the hunt for David Villa or another striker. Which leaves us with Adebayor, RVP, Bendter, Walcott. Don’t expect any silverware next season.
Wenger has stated he’s not making any decisions on any players AT THE MOMENT!
He Just Said He’s Not Making Concretre Investigations For Any At The MOMENT..So He May Still Bid For David Villa…
Signing Villa?
not in a million years if Arsene the manager.Though he wants to keep the current team at the first place, but he still have to buy another striker that got ‘killer instinct’ like Villa. Adebayor is not a player that got the instinct at the moment because in a crucial match, he’s nervous and can’t bag in goals though there are bunch of golden chances. Signing Villa could be the answer for arsenal but we know Arsene. Would he sign Villa in the summer?
Arsene enjoys frustrating all the fans. If he had a world class striker, Arsenal would have won by at least 5 goals last night against Reading. If he does not buy Villa, he confirms my fears that he has too much pride for doing it “his way”. Arsene should stop blaming referees and bad luck. It is his fault that the squad is so thin. And when a top rated striker like Villa comes knocking, what does he do…@#%$. Another barren season is on the line. Fans should organise a protests and demand for major buys by Arsene. Wave banners at the remaining games,
Maybe AW has something which we don’t know.Actually the gunners shd have won the title by a canter such was the profligacy in front of goal.As a matter of fact,it has been going on on for a number of years but no action was taken because of the striker in chief Henry.
I’m afarid if Arsenal continue to place style above results,gooner fans can forget about trophies. The top priority is to win games even if it means ugly which AW abhors.
Unless there is a mind set change by AW it will be business as usual leading to more pain for all fans.But you never know this could be the season the broke the camel’s back and AW is forced into a drastic review of his methods.
We shall see.
Adebayor is good, but not enough. We still need another quality striker to win titles next season. Signing a player like Villa should be considered.
If Wenger won’t sign any world class striker this summer, he will be simply crap
So glad that most of you lot are not managing the team! lets be realistic there really is not that much to do with the team apart from a bit of tweaking in central defense and more goals from midfield. We have dominated the teams in the top for this season , next season with more maturity in the team we will have the team of Arsene and the fans vision…only this time it will be a team that has sustainability embedded in them.
Arsene knows
Keep the faith
If you don’t want to gamble, never rely on such a player like Ade. He is not good enough and only scores against average sides. We need David Villa
adebayor is exactly what arsenal need, he’s that player that can get you goals when you need them, i.e ac milan man u liverpool they were crucial goals. Hes a team player. you have to look this is his first season as the main striker a striker that every arsenal player or fan relies on, and 27 goals is an amazing tally, even thierry henry used to score roughly this many goals but the only difference is he used to put away all his chances so that shows we hardly used to create any and ade’s only gonna get better 40 atleast, so watch out gooners. just watch him roll next season.
IF WENGER DOESNT MAKE A BID FOR DAVID VILLA, HE IS THE STUPID MAN I EVER KNOWN..
FIRST, HE WILL WASTE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A WORLDCLASS PLAYER LIKE DAVID VILLA..
SECONDLY DAVID VILLA WILL GO TO THE ARSENAL’S COMPETITORS LIKE LIVERPOOL OR CHELSEA..
IF IT HAPPENS..THERE IS NO TRUST IN WENGER ANYMORE..
no silver wear, shut up mate u no nothing, a/w knows wot he has 2 do and will do it. 3/4 players will come in.and the silver will 2.watch this space………….
i think Wenger has to sign Villa, along with a centre back and a strong midfielder he is exactly the kind of player we need someone who is accurate and effective in front of goal but also has great technical ability and he would fit in well with our style of play and would finish off all the chances we create along with Eduardo. the guy practically said he wants to play for us and its about time Wenger stopped buying for the future and bought for now! if he doesnt at least attempt to sign him then hes a fool
Forget it GUys we are all wasting our time , that`s not monseiur Wenger Ways , he will rather give Adevayor 5 more years , Coz he is still young , but will he improve or be able to run at defenders i doubt it very much!!
GET RID OF THIS YO YO FOOL ADE
you know what wenger thinks there are too many strikers he has but he should think there is nobody better than villa he has to be brave and knock out who is weaker
it would be great to sign villa. but will we?? thats another question,
wenger said he may bring in 1 or 2 players, did any of u think that he could be saying that with the thought in his mind if he Dont sell anyone , if he sales then he could easly sign more players to replace them. thats just a thought tho.
first of all we really need a new centre back. gallas and toure are to alike and both kinda short so there suspect when it comes to set pices and crossing. the other is Toure has plaid a little rubbish since comming back from ACN. we need one more center mid and we all know we need a wide player, once them postions are coverd then think about a stricker and a goalkeeper,
we also got vela comming back who can play left wing and up front. up front being his natural postion,
so my gutt feeling is we Wont get a Stricker.
Never going to happen - They will not spend that kind of money and its GILT EDGED chances - PLEEEEEEESE
hello my name is agon i from kosovo im 20 yares . transfer’s david villa good idea by by from kosovo .
The majority of Arsenal fans’ views have suggested they want the club to sign Villa, but although he is available it seems increasingly unlikely.
I don’t think Wenger is keen to spend so much money on a single player - in fact, his total summer expenditure could be less than the cost of Villa, which will not impress Gunners supporters.
And Wenger’s expertise lie in uncovering young, cheap talent - is he really likely to invest around £15m on a 26-year-old? His current strike-force are very young and recently he stated he wanted to give Walcott and Bendtner extended runs in the team.
But isn’t Walcott superior as a winger? And I’m not sure about Bendtner, especially at it seems his team-mates dislike his natural cockiness. Do Arsenal already have the talent in their squad to build a potent strike-force for next season?
Adebayor is not good enough. He has no predatory instincts. He always misses several chances before scoring.In high profile games that is just not good enough!!!coz you don’t get that luxury of having all those chances come your way. As for David Villa, i am can’t wait to hear he is in the Arsenal camp. Already his heart is with Arsenal. Wenger pliz go get him.
Most Arsenal fans are incapable of critical thought. Sell Adebayor (27 goals this season) for Villa (15 goals) whose best ever goal return is 25 in 6 seasons in the top flight. Why would he come to Arsenal anyway, if this is how Arsenal fans treat players who perform for their team. If a player who’s scored 27 goals gets slagged, it’s going to be interesting to see which strikers will do better than that.
Adebayour is a piece of shitte, this piece of shitte are the cost of our slump. This junk is not good enough to plat in any Premiere league side at all. Why ??? 1. His first touch of the ball is damn fucking poor, I’m better than him. 2. Got no gut’s or skills to take on defender’s at all. 3. Damn fucking poor ball control. 4. No body stability at all. 5. Fucking lazy. 6. Too arrogant. 7. Cannot play in a team, “selfish”. 8. Wasted too many easy goalscoring chances. 9. Only score when the feed is good. 10. Useless piece of shitte. Arsenal need a top quality, experience, skillfull, talented, pacey worldclass striker to replace this piece of shitte (Adebayour) upfront. Robin is good but he is made of toilet tissue (injury prone). Arsenal needs predator in front of goal’s not shitte like Adebaoyur & injury prone Robin. Wenger must buy Karim Benzema & Thierry Henry or Didier Drogba or Samuel Eto’o to replace those useless strikers as our main striker’s (conbination of young & experience). Walcott & Eduardo can be our quality supersubs. Striker’s to offload : 1. Adebayour 2. Robin. 3. Bendtner. Striker’s to buy : 1. Karim Benzema. 2. Thierry Henry or Didier Drogba or Samuel Eto’o.
Cheers
villa at the front
ben arfa at the flank
zapata at the back
then, we set for the new season…
come on ARSENAL !!!!
Adebayor partners david villa is a good strike 4 arsenal.Arsenal need villa bcoz villa is skillful n intelligent n rvp n eduardo owes injured.adebayor air plus power can make many chance 4 grap goal 4 villa
Arsene should sign Villa or leave, I am tired of his story telling habit that he has graduated into of late,about mental strength,attitude etc,soccer is not chess,much as there is mental strength,the physical strength counts more,hence when u have tired players,however strong they may be,they can never win matches.Adebayor’s 27 goals would be atleast 54 by a prolific striker.comeon arsene buy Villa for ur own good,end of the season trophyless with ur funny policies and i guarantee u it will be ur end,may be u should start coaching the reserve team
We were leading 1-0 against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Man United. We scored the second most goals in the EPL. We need a stronger defense much more than another striker.
Well I would rather see David Villa in Real Madrid, but he really wants to go to England, and I think the best choice would be Arsenal, and they really cannot wait for da Silva to recover, so they need a strong striker alongside Adebayor and VanPersie, who isnt really good player, and David Villa is the BEST striker (C.Ronaldo and Kaka are better than him, but they are not strikers), so David Villa to Arsenal…
BUT If he wouldnt go to Arsenal, then I think he should go to Chelsea, cuz Abramovic tends to sell Drogba (to Real) and probably Shevchenko will go back to Milano (cuz he said he is still love with AcMilan), and Abramovic also said, that he wants to BUY 5 STAR FOOTBALL PLAYER…so if he sells Drogba and Sheva, then he NEEDS David Villa…
BUT the best would be to go to ARSENAL or Real Madrid!!!
Oh, but thats right, that Arsene Wenger would rather buy a youngster footballer…well, then there is CHELSEA (or Real;))
[...] talented players to the club, when a player of David Villa’s calibre says he would like to join the club Arsène Wenger is forced to resist because he would crave too much [...]
[...] striker David Villa has said recently that he sees his future elsewhere - and named Arsenal as a preferred destination. Fàbregas would relish such a move, “We are very good friends… I think Villa would be [...]