View From The Sphere

Would he solve our defensive problems out?

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97822hp2Arsenal are among three Premier League sides who are monitoring Aurelien Chedjou after the Lille centre-back signaled his intention to leave the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old has been somewhat ever-present for Lille this season, starting 24 of a possible 26 Ligue 1 games, as well as featuring five times in the Champions League for Rudi Garcia’s side.

His impressive performances for the French outfit have not gone unnoticed as reports have linked him with the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool, as well as other clubs around Europe.

And after six years at Lille, the Cameroon international seems ready to seek new pastures.

The powerful centre-back was quoted on Skysports.com:

‘I don’t want to sound pretentious, but I feel ready to join a top European team. Then it will be up to me to make a name for myself there.

‘I am ambitious but I am not saying that I am a (Nemanja) Vidic, Rio Ferdinand or John Terry, who have proved a lot and are older than me. I can dream and say I believe I can be as good as them.

‘I have always wanted to play in England. There are great players there and you play at a high level.

‘I won’t say it is my dream and if I don’t find a club there I will refuse another country. There are other attractive destinations, such as Germany, Spain, three or four Italian clubs and maybe Turkey.’

He added:

‘A summer departure? Starting speculation is not my style.

‘If at the end of the season I am told the club want to bring young players through and I get a good offer for myself and the club, that will present an opportunity to leave on good terms. That is what I want.

‘We agreed with the club officials last summer that if I enjoyed a good season and there was an offer which would benefit everyone, I could leave.’

Arsenal have struggled defensively this season and many fans and pundits have, in the past, urged Arsene Wenger to strengthen this department of the team. The Frenchman done so by signing Per Mertesacker in summer 2011, but the German has just now settled into the side yet back-line still appear to be having problems.

With both Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou set to depart The Emirates at the end of the season, Arsenal will no doubt need to recruit at least one centre-back in the summer transfer window to bolster the defence. But is Chedjou that man?

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2 comments

  • Duc says:

    Probably not. Doubtful that he’ll hit the ground running and be up to speed for the PL. Squid & Kos were awful at first. Squid still is but Kos has improved way beyond what I predicted but it still took 1 yr plus. Sylvestre was shit too. This is just another potential signing based on Wenger’s French bias. All this British core is empty PR. If he was serious he would have signed Baines instead of paying the same in two instalments for Santos and Monreal. Plus the wages would be about 3 mill less with Baines. Same withs Jags, Walker, Cahill. Instead we get SS Turpitz and cheap French kids.

  • atid says:

    best away defence in the league and 2nd best home and away. its the win percentage that is costing us especially against our rivals. that is all about mentality which is instilled by the manager. perhaps the abandonement of zonal marking will breed confidence back into the defence. we are also creating more cuances than any other team yet are only the 3rd highest scorers. more clinical finishers are required than walcott giroud and podolski who would make excellent back up instead of gervinho arshavin and chamakh.

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