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| Luis Suarez: Hands of god (Source: Telegraph.co.uk) |
Afro Gunner has been deliberately quiet. Too quiet for several months now because I had everything crossed- from my hair follicles to my toe nails. Hoping first that we make the top 4. Then that we don't lose any star players. Then that we sign star players. The season came and went, we scrapped into the top four on the last day of the season. Some said 'was there ever any doubt that we'd get into the top 4?'
Yes there was. Lots of doubt for that matter. But let by-gones be. We have yet another opportunity before us to strengthen the squad and really compete- yes just to COMPETE for trophies this coming season. A few weeks ago it appeared the Higuain deal was in the bag and any day it would be announced.
Now, we are all sitting here wondering what the fuck is going on. Arsenal have made a bid for Luis Suarez from Liverpool which has, quite rightly, been turned down by Liverpool. What do I make of it? I think Arsenal are just testing the waters here. I do not think Arsenal really want Luis Suarez. It is quite clear that our main striking target is Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid but for some reason, that deal seems to be failing. I suspect that Manchester City and Chelsea have stepped in and are promising Higuain much more than what we have put on the table.
Much has been said about Luis Suarez and his racism, cheating and biting. Honestly, Afro Gunner must put it on record that if we are going to break our transfer record to sign a quality striker, please let it not be Luis Suarez. I am also of the opinion that Suarez will one day do to us, should we sign him, what he has done to Liverpool. The man has shown no respect or loyalty to Liverpool despite their support for him when he let the club down with his behaviour. I also have never forgiven him for cheating Ghana out of a place in the semi-final of the last world cup in South Africa. So, NO to Suarez for me. It would be like re-signing Adebayor! urgh! There must be another proven striker out there whom we can sign who doesn't come with such baggage as Suarez surely?
If Higuain is available for £20M please buy him. If Madrid want £25M, please buy him. If they want £30M please buy him. It is time we took a chance on a quality striker. It not only elevates the club's image but it uplifts the players themselves. Look at what Van Pussie did for United and for only £24M. He was the 16 point difference between us and United at the end of the season.
The players must be getting nervous at the apparent lack of star additions to the side. Yes we must not underestimate Olivier Giroud, Lucas Podolski and Theo Walcott in attack. Nor should we downplay the 11-game unbeaten run at the end of last season, but that was painful and we cannot hope to play that way for a whole season and hope to win the League. Or any trophy for that matter. This squad is 3-4 quality players from seriously challenging for the Premier League (How long have we been saying this??)
If we fail to land Higuain or some other big name striker in this transfer window, it shall put to shame the club and the CEO Ivan Gazidis who has been singing about our financial muscle. Even the players are now calling on the club to flex this new found muscle. For once, we are not at risk of losing a star player at Arsenal but we are in a great position to sign 2-3 star players and really give this squad belief that it can compete for trophies.
It is time to flex that muscle Messrs Wenger and Gazidis.
