Arsenal News » 2010 » January » 15

I have only just found out about the Soccer Lens Awards (thanks to our good friend Gf60) so there is only a day or so left for getting entries in.  (Sorry I have been so taken up with all the events of the last few days.  Fancy Liverpool losing all their players at once.  Well I never).

If you enjoy what this site is about, and want to give it a mention, then please do to the soccer lens site and vote for us.

Here’s the categories that might seem of interest…

Best Writer: Best Community: Best News Site: Best Team Site: Best Team Writer: The Expert:

Funniest Site

What you can do is just cut that list, write your answer in next to each one,and then email it to awards@soccerlens.com

Or you can go to The Soccer Lens.  The awards are on http://soccerlens.com/awards/2009-soccerlens-awards/

And thus on to the three signings mentioned in the last post.

First on my list I have Samuel Galindo of Bolivia. The story being copied from web site to web site is that he was going to sign for Everton, but didn’t and instead has signed for us.  Obviously the young man has brains.

He’s 17, he is an attacking mid-fielder, and he does not hold an EU passport.  So if he is with us, Arsenal will have to buy him (sorry apply for) a “special talent” work permit.  The only time I’ve come across one of these before was  when I worked in Algeria for a year.    My “special talent” (ho ha)  was my reputed ability to speak English.

According to rumours, made up stories and downright lies, Galindo will cost 50 million pennies (ie half a million pounds) with extra payments due if he keeps his shirt clean and smiles for the camera.

Second is Wellington, also known as Wellington Silva also known as Wellington da Silva.  He is, according to the over-excited press, a “wonderkid” which means he may well be related to Galindo, who is also a “wonderkid”.  What with them both being South American I am sure they must be related.  I mean how many wonderkids can there be?

There’s another funny thing they have in common.  In both cases the Lord Wenger “swooped” for the “wonderkid”.  Isn’t that interesting.  Two swoops in the space of a couple of weeks.  Quite a swooper our Lord W.

Obviously they will need separating once they get to the Ems, otherwise no one will know which swooped for wonderkid is which.

Not only is Wellington a “wonderkid” he is also a “teen sensation”.  He comes from Fluminese and in his trial period with us he scored four goals in a youth game against Norwich.  He played in the Under-17 World Cup and Under-17 South American Championship.

“Welling-ton oh oh

Welling-ton oh oh

He comes from Fluminese

And his mother’s name is Maisie”

Well maybe not.  Here’s a great comment from one of our national newspapers: “His signing will disappoint Gunners fans who had expected to see a more experienced player arrive at the club in the January transfer window.”

Anyway, we can hide our disappointment since he can’t come and play for us until he is 18 in January 2011.

Third up is our Sol. But you know all about him.  One of very few men to have realized that Notts County was a con, and to have got out straight away.

So if that’s it on the signing front, who is going to burst through from the reserves (as they say in newspaper wonderland).

And my point in linking the kids coming through with the new signings is that Arsenal has once again re-written the rulebook.  While the old dinosaurs of newspaperland bang on and on about signing BIG NAME players for billions of pounds we have the production line approach.

So we bring the kids in at 16 or 17 (or some even at 11) and then ease them in gently.  In effect we often don’t really see our transfers arrive, because they gently emerge from the reserves, onto the bench and then into the first team.

So here’s my transfers ready to burst through onto the unsuspecting multi-verse…

1. Jay Emmanuel Thomas. It is extraordinary to think that the guy doesn’t even have a number yet.  But then what number do you give someone who can play everywhere and do everything?  He got three against West Iceland Reservoirs this week.
2. Craig Eastmond. Already been picked up by Lord W and looking accomplished.  Right back and central midfield, won the youth cup last year.
3. Kyle Bartley. Centre back who also won the youth cup last year.  Building a high reputation.
4. Frances Coquelin. I’ve been tipping him to break through for a year and a half now, and he is still sitting in the reserves.  Proves what I know.  I thought he was defensive midfield but then he suddenly seemed to be a forward.  Or a right back.  Most confusing.
5. Gilles Sunu. Double winning forward.
6. Nacer Barazite. Lots of games on loan.  Is he going to make it or not?  Now is the time to find out.
7. Herschel Sanchez Watt – forward or winger.  Perhaps it’s a bit too early but people are talking him up.

Or what about those already semi-established such as

1. Fran Merida who may (or may not) be leaving – could it be that all that stuff in the papers was, err, well, maybe, not quite true?
2. Carlos Vela who looked so much better in the frozen wasteland of the game against Everton when he came on
3. Theo Walcott who has been out so long he’s even dropped off the injury reports
4. Nic Bendtner who had proven himself to be central to our new system, until he got all injured.

So, what do we have there?  Three new signings, plus eleven players who have yet to break through, or who have broken through but could go further.  Not bad for a January transfer.

Don’t forget to vote.  People died for your right to vote you know.  Well, maybe not in terms of voting for blog of the year, but you know, voting’s good.  Unless you are an anarchist.

Postscript-type-thing…

You can now read an extract from MAKING THE ARSENAL on www.woolwicharsenal.co.uk – and if that doesn’t make you laugh then Wellington da Silva’s mother’s first name isn’t Maisie.

(c) Tony “vote for me” Attwood 2010