Walter Samuel!!!!

[AFC10]

90k a week at 34 lol. Not sure if this guy is serious? #smh

[JohnGooner]

No-one is slower than Mertesacker. And oh shit an experienced player that has won more trophies than our whole squad put together. He won't sign for us anyway.

He is.
And way to go, that's the way. We have too many kids, let's do the complete opposite and sign a past it player! While we're at it, we should also go for Totti and Zambrotta.

[ArsenalN5]

I suggest he talk to Shanghai Shenhua.

[Massa]

Totti has actually found his touch again this season, as has ADP.

34 isn't that old especially for a CB. Campbell came back to us and did a great job at 35, for a defender they can easily play well into their 30's. Just look at Zanetti! Pace didn't seem to be an issue for him when he had the best player ever in his back pocket.

[Leody]

If you're in the right position two steps early your sprint speed doesn't matter, because you don't need to do it.

A man's brain will always be faster than his legs.

[JohnGooner]

What happened to signing players in their mid twenties, seriously? Players who have a bit of experience but are still hungry and enthusiastic? You're not asking to sign a 34 year old player from the PL, you're asking to sign a 34 year old who never played in anyhthing like this league and this country.

I suggest he talk to Shanghai Shenhua.

Or Anzhi, perfect place for pre-retirement players.

[Massa]

You have to be young to have more hunger do you? I guess Andy Caroll is more enthusiastic than Gerrard then

[JohnGooner]

You have to be young to have more hunger do you? I guess Andy Caroll is more enthusiastic than Gerrard then

Carroll is utter crap, that's his problem. But neither is Gerrard the most enthusiastic player anymore, he looks closer to finished than he is to a player who can drive his team forward.

[JohnGooner]

Look at the Chavs for example. Players like Drogba, Cashley, Lampard and Terry used to be few of the best around, yet they look over and tired now. And that's their club's biggest problem. You're a bit like Arsene's other half, either we go for enthusiastic children with no experience whatsoever and feed them to the rest of the premier league, or we go for players who are close to retirement and have been considerably shit as of late.

[Leody]

Look at the Chavs for example. Players like Drogba, Cashley, Lampard and Terry used to be few of the best around, yet they look over and tired now. And that's their club's biggest problem. You're a bit like Arsene's other half, either we go for enthusiastic children with no experience whatsoever and feed them to the rest of the premier league, or we go for players who are close to retirement and have been considerably shit as of late.

One extreme or the other when you compare Arsenal to Chelsea. A good mix of youth and experience is what's needed imo. The strengths of the one hide the weaknesses of the other.

Much like Milan this year. People like to say they're old, but they're not. They have a good mix of youth in the squad now with Pato and Boateng, mixed with guys in their prime like Thiago Silva, Nocerino and Abate. That's half the squad at 26 or younger. Why people call them old is beyond me. Then you have the obvious old guard adding the calming experience with Ibra, Van Bommel, Nesta, Seadorf and so on.

[JohnGooner]

Look at the Chavs for example. Players like Drogba, Cashley, Lampard and Terry used to be few of the best around, yet they look over and tired now. And that's their club's biggest problem. You're a bit like Arsene's other half, either we go for enthusiastic children with no experience whatsoever and feed them to the rest of the premier league, or we go for players who are close to retirement and have been considerably shit as of late.

One extreme or the other when you compare Arsenal to Chelsea. A good mix of youth and experience is what's needed imo. The strengths of the one hide the weaknesses of the other.

Much like Milan this year. People like to say they're old, but they're not. They have a good mix of youth in the squad now with Pato and Boateng, mixed with guys in their prime like Thiago Silva, Nocerino and Abate. That's half the squad at 26 or younger. Why people call them old is beyond me. Then you have the obvious old guard adding the calming experience with Ibra, Van Bommel, Nesta, Seadorf and so on.

People said Milan were old a few seasons back, they got much better. Ibrahimovic is still in his prime, he only turned 30 a few months ago. Notice something differente between their experienced players and us signing Samuel? You don't just sign them experienced and expect them to show calm and guidance in a new environment, it's something that has to grow from within the club.

[Leody]

Yeah I'm not saying Samuel is a great move by any means.

Just saying that we shouldn't discount players once they hit 30. Yeah you don't want a full squad of 30+, just like you don't want a full squad of U-26...

There needs to be a balance, something I think we're lacking.

But discounting this move out of hand just because he's 34 if foolish. He's better than most 27 year old CBs on the planet even at his age.

[JohnGooner]

Yeah I'm not saying Samuel is a great move by any means.

Just saying that we shouldn't discount players once they hit 30. Yeah you don't want a full squad of 30+, just like you don't want a full squad of U-26...

There needs to be a balance, something I think we're lacking.

I agree we're lacking a good balance, thanks to project youth. And I wouldn't discount a player once he hits 30, but he needs to still be at his best. There arn't too many who are, 30 is usually when a player starts a , both in performance and in fitness levels (with obvious exceptions of course).

[CynicalGooner]

You don't come to England from Italy at 34... it's the other way round.

He's a proper dirty bastard is Samuel, considering we get called up for phantom fouls that never happened as it is, I think he'd be spending a lot of time suspended. Should look elsewhere if we want cover, there's plenty of good players around, Wenger just makes it look hard because he doesn't have a clue about defenders.

[Arsenal~Fanatic]

oh God have we come to this ?

Discussing this ..