Transfer Linked – David Villa

Arsenal have been linked with a late move for Barcelona striker David Villa. Links on the internet are suggesting that Villa wants to leave Barcelona this January and he is reportedly keen on a move to the Emirates.

Personally I find this rumour hard to believe. Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova said Villa would be going nowhere and that Arsenal can forget about signing Villa.

However, rumours have re-emerged that Arsenal are in for Villa and it’s certainly worth discussing. Villa is 31 years of age. He’s had a long-term injury last season too. So it’s fair to say that he’s getting on a bit and his injury record isn’t perfect. But there is no doubting that Villa is a top class player and would strengthen the team. Arsenal loaned Marouane Chamakh to West Ham so they have lost a striker in January. Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have started their Arsenal’s careers brightly and Villa would only strengthen the attacking options. Villa would help add goals missing from the side since Robin Van Persie left in the summer.

Let’s not forget that Giroud and Podolski are only 6 months into their Arsenal careers. 6 months into a new league, new country. It takes time to adapt. They’re starting to show signs of a fine partnership. Let’s not forget Theo Walcott wants to start up front too.

Personally I can’t see Arsene Wenger spending anything above £10m on a 31-year old striker plus over £100k in wages for him too. I wouldn’t have a problem with him joining the club as he is a great player, but it just seems like such an un-Wenger move if that makes sense.

I wouldn’t be shocked if nobody joined between now and Thursday’s transfer deadline. I think we need to strengthen. Villa would add goals to Arsenal, no doubt. There are other needs. A striker is on the list. Wenger has said that too. A backup left-back in my personal opinion is needed as Andre Santos isn’t good enough. Defensive midfielder’s are being linked too, Mohamed Diame the one being linked strongest. There’s certainly a need for fresh faces before the deadline if Arsenal are to qualify for Europe. No doubt. They have too many injury problems come up during a season and if Arsenal’s first-choice XI isn’t playing, they struggle. The quality in depth isn’t there in every position unfortunately. You see Spurs, Chelsea, United etc strengthening their squads in the window, whilst Arsenal sit and do nothing.

It’s fair to say that Barcelona owe us a player heading in the London direction. We’ve sold them the likes of Song, Fabregas, Hleb, Henry, Van Bronckhorst, Overmars and Petit. The list will go on. We buy their young players, train them up into world class players and sell them back to Barcelona for a big profit! (Fabregas). Villa would be a huge coup for Arsenal. I can’t see it though.

Let’s hope for some positive transfer activity in the coming days.

David Villa is being linked with a move to the Emirates before the transfer deadline.