Anyway time to get to the point a lot of bloggers are writing about bringing back the legend that is Patrick Vieira my favourite footballer between the age of 7 and 14. According to other blogs the players said how Vieira was insipartional to the ManCity squad as they won the FA cup I haven’t heard a ManCity player say this but ok more than likely true. PV4 demands huge wages and for us he would be a squad player, would Vieira offer as much as Coquelin or Frimpong in that position? I doubt it but his experience and aura of greatness would certainly be an asset. Could we turn Vieira into a centre back

So Vieira back to Arsenal que nostalgic music scenes of him stroking that penalty into the back of the net against ManU lifting the FA cup, ah what a player Patrick Vieira WAS! Arsenal fans are impatient not about the 6 years without a trophy that is understandable but impatient about transfers the window officially opens 00:00 July 1st so shut up moaners. All our rivals are spending huge amounts that haven’t actually improved their teams at all Henderson to Liverpool, I doubt he will start every game. Jones to ManU is he better than O Shea and Brown now or Michael Carrick? will David De Gea be better than Van Der Sar next season? hold up have they even agreed a fee for him yet?

Anyway time to get to the point a lot of bloggers are writing about bringing back the legend that is Patrick Vieira my favourite footballer between the age of 7 and 14. According to other blogs the players said how Vieira was insipartional to the ManCity squad as they won the FA cup I haven’t heard a ManCity player say this but ok more than likely true. PV4 demands huge wages and for us he would be a squad player, would Vieira offer as much as Coquelin or Frimpong in that position? I doubt it but his experience and aura of greatness would certainly be an asset. Could we turn Vieira into a centre back, can he hold a high line? if so then that would be an interesting prospect. Hleb, Flamini and even Sol Campbell have been linked now if we want to be silly how about Ashley Cole? or Tony Adams?

Joey Barton has been linked with Arsenal recently my first response was YES PLEASE YES( but only because I have a Newcastle supporting friend I like to make fun of) my 2 seconds of thinking response was oh dear God No! Samba wants to join Arsenal according to Blackburn officials, if Arsenal are still interested that should speed things up a bit. I don’t think we will be seeing a new centre back until late July/early August as Bartley is getting a chance in pre-season.

Ricardo Alvarez was expected to be signed sealed and delivered by now but Sarsfield wanted silly money oh well. Gervinho is to be announced an Arsenal player in the next 48 hours hmmm that sounds familiar eh MeanLean? So right now we need a winger who can preferably play on both sides and up front, has pace, can cross the ball, has an eye for goal and has premiership experience. Now where could we find a player like that…? Jose Antonio Reyes one of the Invincibles, our one time record signing who just never settled in London sadly.

Reyes in his first spell at Arsenal showed his class on more than a few occasions ‘that’ goal against ManU being one we all enjoyed particularly. Athletico Madrid seem to be selling everybody this summer and at 28 I dout Reyes wants to spend his peak years at a rebuilding team. He has the attributes we need, he is very much in his physical peak and is familiar with Arsenal and Arsene Wenger he is Spanish which means he is genetically able to play possession football according to Xavi. As a member of the Invincibles he was here with the greats Vieira, Campbell, Pires, Ljunberg, Cole, Bergkamp and Henry so he has been influenced by great players. A leader at Athletico Madrid as they won the uefa europa liga copa division 1a junior vitamin b12 cup which is actually quite difficult to win and fairly prestigous despite it’s many name and format changes.

Reyes would be available quite cheaply for a player of his quality at under £12m if the Gervinho deal doesn’t go through or we sell Arshavin he would be an ideal signing the second coming that will help restore us to glory if you will. Of all the ex players linked to Arsenal so far this summer Reyes is the only one who is actually a good player now, would he settle in Lodon this time around? I think so he was young and complained about a lack of things to do in the evening he has a family now. And while we’re at it how about a double raid on Athletico for Diego Godin or Alvaro Dominguez 2 quality centre backs good on the ground good in the air and have both shown leadership qualities.

A slightly related topic, when a player has one year left on his contract he is worth considerably less than when he has a longer contract as he can leave for free next summer simples. Why doesn’t this apply to English players? the reported fee for Ashley Young is £15-20m and if we want to sign Gary Cahill we have to pay his buy-out clause of £17m but Nasri is apparantley worth only £10m as his contract runs out next summer??Is Ashley Young anywhere near as good as Nasri is a centre back ever valued as highly as an attacking midfielder under normal circumstances?

Mean Lean’s Response

I wouldn’t complain too much if Patrick Vieira returned to Arsenal as a bit part player. Think his mental qualities and leadership would do wonders to the likes of Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott and company. However even in a bit part capacity, I wonder how he would manage to play the Arsenal way today. Our central midfield cover plenty of ground and Vieira was never the quickest at distributing the ball, even back when he was a colossus.

I think Arsene has already contemplated the return of Paddy back before he moved to City so I cannot see this happening, not as part of the playing staff at least. I would love a role created for him on the coaching staff though. From tea boy, leg waxer to coaching the youngsters, his presence at the club would be beneficial to pretty much everyone who comes in contact with him.

As for Jose Reyes, I think he had his chance and he wanted out. I cannot see a way back after that. A good player on his day, his debut against Manchester City at Highbury was wonderful, I had high hopes for him but his Arsenal career just did not take off the way it should have done. He is inconsistent these days and I would rather we looked forward in his regard.

As for the transfers, you are correct. Plenty of movement is happening behind closed doors and not for public consumption. Many players are on holiday so medicals, talks and decisions are often on hold. The ball will get rolling after July 1st.