Posted on Thursday, 29th March 2012 by Tony Merakli
Arsene Wenger plans to recoup at least £23 million in wages this summer by offloading EIGHT players in the upcoming transfer window.
The Daily Mail suggests that the Frenchman is looking to add two big-name signings in the summer and tie down his star players – namely Robin van Persie – to new long-term contracts.
Despite the sales of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy last summer, it is understood that the Arsenal wage bill has increased by £20 million, so freeing the budget is one of Wenger’s top priorities this summer. However, due to their hefty salaries, shifting the below mentioned names may prove to be a difficult task.
The eight Gunners supposedly up for the chop are Nicklas Bendtner, Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh, Sebastien Squillaci, Denilson, Carlos Vela and Manuel Almunia.
But do they all deserve to be shown the door?
Nicklas Bendtner
The 24-year-old has struggled to hold down a first-team place at Arsenal this season, hence his season-long loan switch to Sunderland, where he’s been fairly average to say the least. Claims to be the best striker in the world and supposedly earns £50k-a-week, laughable. Definitely needs to be shown the door this summer.
Andrey Arshavin
Currently on loan at former club Zenit until the end of the season. Has been in poor form for the past two seasons or so and it seems the majority of the Arsenal faithful has finally run out of patience with him. Although I like the guy and think he’s a talented player, I believe it’s time the Russian moved on.
Marouane Chamakh
Started his Arsenal career off in good form when RVP was out injured last year, scoring 10 goals up until January. However, after the Dutchman recovered the Moroccan was dropped to the bench and hasn’t been seen a lot since. Very much a bench warmer these days, and if we can acquire a top striker in the summer then I would sell him to the highest bidder.
Sebastien Squillaci
We have Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou, who are all better than the ageing French centre-back. Pockets £50k-a-week, why? Only he and the club know.
Denilson
Will no way feature for us from here on in!
Carlos Vela
Hasn’t really been given a proper chance at Arsenal, but with the summer inclusions of Gervinho and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, the Mexican doesn’t stand a chance of playing for us ever again. Wish him the best.
Manuel Almunia
His contract is set to expire this summer, no need to renew it in my opinion.
To be honest, even if our wage bill wasn’t greater than it was in previous seasons, I still would’ve expected these players to leave the club.
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Tags: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin, Arsene Wenger, Carlos Vela, Denilson, Gervinho, Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Manuel Almunia, Marouane Chamakh, Nicklas Bendtner, Per Mertesacker, Robin Van Persie, Sebastien Squillaci, Thomas Vermaelen
Posted in View From The Sphere | Comments (20)
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March 29th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
agree with all those players simply not good enough for the arsenal
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March 29th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
so who is the eighth player?
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March 29th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
I also think Djourou should go, but he signed a new contract.
I like Fabianski, think he will be a top keeper in the future, but I dnt see him staying to be a number 2 as he is good enough for a midtable prem team. Wouldn’t mind a keeper like Jaskelinan (spelling) from bolton to come in as backup.
I would like 2 see Vela be given a chance, he hasn’t had a fair crack of the whip, and surely would have done a better job of finishing chances this season than Chamakh and possibly Park.
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March 29th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Agree with all. We won’t miss them. But we must bring in at least 3 quality players to toughen up the squad.
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March 29th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
You mention 8 players in the title but the article mentions only 7. Also, have you just copy/pasted the Daily Heil? What’s the point? What about Lansbury, can’t get a game at West Ham, Eastmond, Manone, Fabianski and others?
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March 29th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Agree with all 7 names but I feel that we have a number of the youngsters that we could also let go, the Ox is an example of being good enough at a young age so we need to be more ruthless with some others, we cannot afford to be a breeding ground for young players for them only to be passed on to other teams, we need to let them go sooner but keep the process going with new boys arriving each season as if we can produce 2 gems out of 20 it is still worthwhile.
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March 29th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
If those are the correct wages of the listed think we are going to end up stuck with most of them. Who is going to give them parity with current salary. Players unlikely to take a cut so unless we loan them out again whilst paying % of wages or take reduced fee to allow buyer to give them a huge signing on fee we’re stuck. Reported today that PSG in for Chamakh .. Day after they were in for Joe Cole. So we are suppose to believe that having a unlimited transfer pot PSG would pick these !! Basically a list of players that we would like shot of if anybody out there wants them….
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March 29th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Park has to leave.
He do nothing for Arsenal & doesn’s have any value for commercial reason.
due to the military duty scandal, 90 % Korean has Anti park Ju young.
Even most of korean doesn’t want national team any more.
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March 29th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Denilson – would stay in Sao Paulo so no problem with him for at least another season.
Almunia – Thank God his contract is up, so no problems with him as well.
Carlos Vela – Real sociedad are keen to buy him , problem solved.
Bendy – Some mid table club would take him on loan or we should be able to sell him for atleast 4 – 5 million because I believe that even though he is mediocre there won’t be shortage of clubs to buy him
Chamakh – would mostly go back to France in the range of 4-5 million and we should be able to recoup the salary we paid him.
Sebastian Squillaci – I can’t see anyone buying him particularly considering that he is on 50k and 31 years old so most probably we are gonna be stuck with him
Andrey Arshavin – I still believe that he should be given another shot,not in left wing but in the central attacking midfield. He may look lazy but he is one of the best in giving through balls
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March 29th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Sorry guys, meant to be seven, can’t count!
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March 29th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Agree with the list but worried who will take squid on at rumoured wages
Add to sell
Eastmond
Hoyte
Lansbury
Park
Galindo
Pedro
Mannone
Shea
Watt
Hopefully total will bring in say £30m with the 7 amigos mentioned. Buy Pod Vertonghen and holliett and we have £10m left over to give to the yanks
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Charlie Reply:
March 30th, 2012 at 4:53 am
Well said Willy. People always forget those players turning 21 who will need to be registered next year if they are included in the squad. Every year there are going to be 5 or more reasonably good players from the youth setup that don’t make the grade and need to be sold, probably to lower leagues. Excluding Lansbury the fees will probably be next to nothing but it’s not a complete list without them. Lansbury looks pretty handy but the fact that he never earnt a Premiership loan deal probably means that he won’t make it at Arsenal. He’s one step short at the point where a decision needs to be made whether to keep him or not.
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March 29th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
The one player I really want to leave Arsenal is Vela. He has a great future ahead of him, and better things to do, far away from your team. Maybe in two or three years Chelsea will bring him back to London for 20 mill.
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March 29th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
i think the club need to have a big season of sorting out players.
alot need to be sold and a few world class need to come in.
also i think the club need to bring in a few better young players.
our reserves at that great.
there alot of good players there but they will never play a game in the first team.
i think young players like ryo who is a gem
need to be found.
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March 29th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
What a fun site, they say 8 and there is only 7, so you get to choice.
As Willie Young says on that list all of them have to show or go they are old enough and u
ly enough to be making a mark
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March 29th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
O Djourou is my choice for 8
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March 30th, 2012 at 1:59 am
I agree with the other players but give CHAMAKH and BENDTNER TIME the boys are young they will became stronger and stronger if they will be given time,be patient gunners with the two player;class A PLAYERS to me in future for ARSENAL.
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Charlie Reply:
March 30th, 2012 at 4:55 am
Bendtner wants to leave and he probably won’t perform if he’s unhappy about being a benchwarmer at Arsenal.
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March 30th, 2012 at 3:13 am
AW finally changing wage policy. Wages bloated with crocs and underperforming players all for the sake of harmony in dressing room. RvP situation shows need to rethink. Arsenal wage bill is 2nd or 3rd in league, so the distance to the two Manchester teams should be closer. One weakness of AW is that he is slow at cutting his losses when he gets it wrong. He is a humanist but biz is biz. Fergie is a better decision maker in this respect, e.g. tried Obertan, did not work – sold to Newcastle etc. If you compare the cost of nurturing one successful talent from a cohort of 17 year olds until they turn 21 and buying one 20 year old who is just about to break thru and try him for a year to see if you were right and adjust that with the number of 17 year olds you need to acquire and train, you’ll find that you actually can pay up more for a few 20 year olds. It is obvious that 90% of our loanees will not become even squad players so you can already cull 1/2 of them now. Seen over a 10 year period, Fergie has spent 10-15m pounds more on players per year than AW but that is still a great deal less than Citeh and Chelski, both about to 40-50m/year. With cost of new stadium behind us AW can increase his budget up but need to tighten up on running costs.
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March 30th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
I think park, mannone, fabianski and many more will leave aswell. Our wage budget is absolute madness and cutting this will help give the top players BIG wages and move our wages to a system that is more based on ability. Our wage budget is not that far off manutds at the moment and they pay rooney 200 odd pound a week so it shows we can afford to pay some big wages.
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