Report: No Arsenal signings on horizon

Gunners squad set to remain the same

By Zain Alvi | 27th January 2012

Report: No Arsenal signings on horizon | read this item

There are a number of indications from the Arsenal camp that there won’t be any major signings arriving at the Emirates Stadium for the remainder of the winder transfer window.

For starters, manager Arsene Wenger has made it clear that the return of Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs to full training diminishes the need to seek a new full-back.

A three-match losing streak in the Barclays Premier League got many Arsenal fans concerned that the lack of a natural full-back left them particularly exposed in that position.

Most recently, vice-captain Thomas Vermaelen struggled as a left-back against Manchester United and was guilty of not moving quickly enough to prevent Danny Welbeck’s match-winning strike.

Therefore, with the pressure firmly on Wenger to unveil a natural full-back, the manager wasted no time in announcing that Sagna and Gibbs will be back on the football pitch very soon.

“Gibbs is back in full training on Monday, and Vermaelen can [also] play left-back and he is fit. [Andre] Santos will be fit in March,” Wenger said about his current options on the left flank.

The Frenchman added: “Three left-backs, plus Sagna – who can play there – is four. We are not [shopping for a] left-back.”

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny recently described Sagna’s return as a season-changing incident for the Gunners and Theo Walcott has backed that sentiment.

The number 14 told Arsenal.com: “Bac shows good qualities at right back. We have had players come in and do fairly well considering they are not full-backs but Bac is a player I bond very well with on the pitch.

“It’s good to see him smiling again and enjoying training. He is a player that I think we have missed.”

Another player in the full-back picture is 18-year old Nico Yennaris, who made a strong impression on skipper Robin van Persie in his second-half performance against Manchester United.

“I’ve seen him improve his game massively of late, even over the last couple of weeks,” Van Persie explained with excitement.

The Dutchman added: “What I like about him is that he always looks forward when he has the ball. He’s a right back who wants to play and bring others into the game – there aren’t many full backs who always do that, but for me it makes a massive difference.”

The only bad news emanating from Arsenal today was that Jack Wilshere may need more time on the sidelines to nurse his ankle injury.

However, the Gunners are unlikley to pursue new players in any attacking positions either, particularly considering that youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ready to give struggling veterans Andrei Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky, and Yossi Benayoun a run for their money.

“Alex can be proud of giving a performance like that on his first Premier League start,” Van Persie said when asked to describe the 18-year old youngster’s performance against Manchester United on Sunday.

“He moved nicely, worked hard, did good things on the ball and protected it well, which is particularly important against big teams. He can look back at a good game of football and we were all really pleased for him,” the striker asserted.

Van Persie himself may need a reliable back-up later in the season and many Gooners have been hopeful that the club would swoop for Lukas Podolski.

But with time running out and no signs of an impending deal, it looks like Arsenal will continue their uphill battle for a top-four finish without any additions to the current squad.

Reader Comments

The below views are those of our readers and do not reflect the opinions of Premiership Talk or its employees.

Morgan says:

January 28, 2012 at 1:37 am

Wenger should live arsenal coz he is not a gunner .

Reply to this Comment
olalekan says:

January 28, 2012 at 12:50 am

am aresenal fan

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