Posted on Tuesday, 21st June 2011 by Iain Culverhouse
Arsenal have been linked with Newcastle left-back Jose Enrique over the weekend. It could just be media speculation and yet another rumour flying around the Emirates. However, Toon boss Alan Pardew has expressed his desire to keep the Spaniard at St. James Park next season.
The 25-year-old is yet to accept a new contract offer from the club and is coming into the last year of his existing deal at Newcastle.
Pardew recently told BBC Radio Newcastle:
‘I’m still hopeful that Enrique – who was a big, big, big, big player for us last year – stays at the football club and we can entice him to stay, and obviously we are still working on that. Jose’s holidaying and doesn’t have too much on at the moment, so we are not confident we can keep him, but we are not scared of losing him. It’s somewhere in between, really. When you have only got a year left on a player of his ability, of course you are vulnerable, and I think it’s nervous times for us on him.’
In all honesty, I don’t think Arsenal should even bother with him this summer. There are plenty of other defenders out there for Arsene Wenger to consider, and in my opinion, I don’t believe he has the qualities to play at a club like Arsenal.
Newcastle can rest assured that there is at least one Arsenal fan who doesn’t want either Enrique or Barton at the Emirates next season, that’s for sure.
The Magpies didn’t have a great season last season, we all know it. They finished 12th in the Premier League on a -1 goal difference, which is very poor. The last thing we need is to be signing there cast-offs.
Arsenal should be concentrating on bigger and better players this summer in order for us to break the trophy drought next season.
Do you guys agree? Should Arsenal bother with Enrique this summer?
Give us your thoughts
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Tags: Alan Pardew, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Jose Enrique, St. James Park, The Emirates
Posted in Tabloid Talk, View From The Sphere | Comments (13)
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June 21st, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Spot om mate….. no more dead-wood at Arsenal
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June 21st, 2011 at 4:18 pm
I would actually be happy with either Enrique or Baines at Arsenal. Enqrique plays mire defensively while Baines plays more offensevaly. I think either would fill left-back nicely.
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June 21st, 2011 at 4:36 pm
I have to disagree.
Firstly – I disagree that Newcastle didn’t have a great season. I think they had an amazing season, promotion to 12th place – 7 points off relegation, just 3 off 8th spot. This is a brilliant achievement straight out of the championship.
Secondly – their cast-offs, not there cast-offs.
Thirdly – I think Enrique is one of the best left backs in the league. I would definitely like to see him in our squad, though preferably to be kept out by a returning to form Clichy.
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June 21st, 2011 at 4:39 pm
It’s nope for Enrique. Preferably Baines…his leftfoot dead ball can easily won Arsenal 3pts…AW sign him while U still can.
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June 21st, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Arsenal signing of new players at a very slow pace. They scout a lot and don’y buy. Other clubs can just grab the players that arsenal don’t buy. Save them money from scouting for new players
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June 21st, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Problem is if you’re an Arsenal fan you won’t know this player. If you’re a football fan you’ll know he is one of the best Left backs in the EPL. This is not a Newcastle cast off, they’re desperate to keep him. I would love to see a team who want to be at Arsenal so happy to see Clichy go and Enrique come in..
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June 21st, 2011 at 4:48 pm
barton would shake a lot of casual play up for us, help close games down when we go 2 up,and get stuck in when the bully boys start to intimidate our soft players…and enrique is a better defender than clichy ..so no i dont agree.
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June 21st, 2011 at 6:17 pm
enrique is one of the best fullbacks in the league. i remember when chelsea can not do anything cause he shut them up, he has great defensive skill
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June 21st, 2011 at 7:11 pm
he looks like cesc’s older bro in that pic.
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June 21st, 2011 at 10:00 pm
I wouldn’t mind Enrique at least he knows what the premiership is about instead of some second division French defender. Clichy has to go, he’s going backwards year on year, and he was prone to a mistake in the first place. As for Barton that thug shouldn’t be allowed into the emirates as a spectator, nevermind on the hallowed turf wearing red and White! Give me felaini any day and whilst baines is a better attacking full back than Enrique let’s face facts, our defence has lost us the title on more than one occasion over the last 3 yes three years remember the penalty clichy gave away against Birmingham that never was(although he shouldn’t have put himself in that position) besides how many goals and assists does clichy chip in with at the minute?
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June 22nd, 2011 at 12:02 am
In my view both full backs are better than Clichy … who has always been a good footballer (and fast) but never a good defender. Baines is very good especially going forward. Enrique is very good especially in defence. I would go for either but prefer Enrique – the defender. Wenger will probably prefer whichever he thinks is the worse defender … if he would even know ???
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June 22nd, 2011 at 6:06 am
how about we try to get gareth bale xD. He still remembers how to play LB right? And we could entice him with Champions League football. Getting one over on the spuds. Well we could try to get Willian as well
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June 22nd, 2011 at 3:20 pm
“The Magpies didn’t have a great season last season, we all know it. They finished 12th in the Premier League on a -1 goal difference, which is very poor. The last thing we need is to be signing there(their)cast-offs”….Still good enough to take 4 points of the gunners though.
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