Shakeup at Arsenal
View attachment 2599588 goners and 7 new gooners.
In what can only be described as an extraordinary re-shuffling of the squad, Arsenal announced that 15 transfers had taken place. Such a major change in the playing squad must be worrying for the regular Arsenal fan, but Prince Harry was at hand to console any worriers, claiming that the squad he was building would be the strongest since the 49-unbeaten team of 2003-2004.
The players announced to be leaving were:
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Danny Welbeck and
Mathieu Flamini join West Ham in a player exchange deal. Prince Harry thanked them both for their contributions, but stated that he could no longer risk having the two-footed-lunge maniac that is Flamini on the pitch, and that he himself buried more chances at training than Welbeck did during finishing excercises.
Mathieu Debuchy and
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain join Southampton in another player exchange deal. With a right-back coming in, Debuchy was deemed surplys to requirements. The Prince said he was sad to see the Ox go, but with other transfers agreed, he would risk not having enough playing time. So letting him go back to his home club would be for the best for both parts.
Tomas Rosicky was on an outgoing contract and rarely playing, so it made sense to cash in on the interest showed by Newcastle. Tomas moves up north for a small sum, but it does us good to get his wages off the bill.
Theo Walcott controversially joins London rivals Chelsea in a player+cash deal. Prince Harry stated that he was sad to see Theo go, as he is a great talent, but when he can only stay fit for 3-4 months at a time, he hoped that he could see more stability with other options.
Mikel Arteta heads back to Everton in another exchange deal. Arteta became an icon on Merseyside, and the club felt it was time to let him go, despite being the team captain. Mikel will be missed for his presence on the field, but his pay-check was simply too large to keep paying for a backup player.
Olivier Giroud is another surprising move, as he heads to Liverpool in a Player + cash deal. I was originally planning on keeping Olivier around, Harry stated, but he wouldn't share with me the secret to his perfect hair, so I decided it was better to get rid of him, so that I could keep being the one getting attention for my crowning glory.
Seeing these players move must leave most Arsenal fans in shock, but Prince Harry was quick to announce, that we will also see a lot of new talent in a Gunner-jersey this year:
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Winston Reid and
Diafra Sakho will join Arsenal from West Ham. Reid gives some long-needed toughness to the back-line and makes sure we have 4 centrebacks this season. Sakho gives us more options up front, and is a clinical finisher that we have have been lacking.
Nathaniel Clyne and
Victor Wanyama will join us from Southampton. Clyne is the current and future English right back. He is already a quality player, and will only improve. With him and Callum Chambers down the right, we should be covered for at least 10 more years. Wanyama gives us some much-needed muscle in the centre of the pitch. Arsenal have lacked a proper ball-winner for years, and Victor will make sure the opponents now can feel that they've faced the Gunners.
Loic Remy joins us from London-rivals Chelsea. He is a very clinical striker, that can dribble, finish, head and do everything a complete striker should do. He is a potential Golden Boot winner, and will probably be first choice up front this season.
James McCarthy joins from Everton. He is another player to add something different to the central midfield. James has a very solid all-round game, and will give us one of the strongest central midfield quartets in the league.
Raheem Sterling is the last signing to be announced today. And what a signing it is. The future of English football! Already an established player, 19-year old Raheem will set the league alight. He has the potential to become one of the worlds greatest players, and Arsenal is the team to help him reach that level.
Despite an astonishing amount of transfers, it seems business is not complete at the Emirates. Prince Harry claimed he had one more deal just about done, that only awaited confirmation from the FA, but he would be announcing it as soon as everything was clear, probably later today. Journalists have been quoted seeing a high-profile English left back in negotiations last night at the Emirates, so there might still be big news to come.
So what's the verdict... poor deals, or an Arsenal side to be feared?