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Arsenal transfer rumours: "We're unlikely to sign a left back"

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16:  Kieran Richardson of Sunderland holds off Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on October 16, 2011 in London, England.  (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsène Wenger has ruled out signing a left back on loan or on a permanent basis today in his press conference.

Arsenal "transfer rumors": there aren't any.

Here's what the boss had to say:

"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," he said.

"Three left backs, plus Sagna - who can play there - is four. We are not [shopping for a] left back."

More after the jump:

Star-divide

So that's it, then. While I sympathize with the difficulty of keeping multiple players happy at one position and trying to fit everyone into a 25-man registered squad, I cannot help but be worried about Kieran Gibbs. He's a good player when fit, but that's a bit like saying a penguin is an excellent flyer when he's an eagle, at this point. I really do hope he puts together a wonderful run of matches, because the club needs him badly.

As for Thomas Vermaelen, he's a serviceable left back, and he's played there for Ajax and Belgium. However, I don't know that one'd find anyone who would prefer him at left back. He has a tendency to drop off towards the center, which leaves him positionally troubling at fullback sometimes (e.g. Manchester United's second goal on Sunday, where he wasn't around to help the struggling Andrei Arshavin against Antonio Valencia).

And saying Arsenal could use Bacary Sagna at left back...okay, well, then, who plays right back?

I don't have any solutions to the problem that don't involve taking on yet more wages and trying to fit players into an already weirdly bloated squad, but this is troubling somehow, anyway.

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Well one factor may be that in this winter window it may be difficult to find good left back candidates?

It’s generally easier to shop in the summer.

But yeah, Gibbs practically doesn’t count as a roster player with his injury history…we really need another left back.

Selling Traore was still a great idea though. Wenger should have no regrets about that.

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The Short Fuse (Arsenal, EPL)
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by silverace99 on Jan 27, 2012 2:41 PM EST reply actions  

I'd much rather have Vermaelen there than Traore

And I agree that there aren’t a lot of good candidates out there right now. That was the problem with relying on Gibbs from the start, though—

by Ted Harwood on Jan 27, 2012 2:48 PM EST up reply actions  

QPR picked up Taiwo on loan.

I’d seriously have to ask if Taiwo if really a worse option than playing even youths like Miquel and Yennaris out of position like we’ve had to.

by Roa on Jan 27, 2012 6:24 PM EST up reply actions  

I don't think Milan would give us Taiwo

Arteta, it's all about the right pass it goes left to the left foot of VAN PERSIE
Proud member of Fusillade and The Short Fuse

by Aidan Gibson on Jan 27, 2012 11:33 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes, and he couldn't play against Milan

But if you’re them, why would you deliberately strengthen your opposition?
By giving us Taiwo, it lessens the chance Gibbs is out for us against Milan.

Arteta, it's all about the right pass it goes left to the left foot of VAN PERSIE
Proud member of Fusillade and The Short Fuse

by Aidan Gibson on Jan 28, 2012 12:57 PM EST up reply actions  

I don’t think that is all that big a concern though. If we showed interest Taiwo would probably have done the rest. Even if he isn’t guaranteed a starting spot every week we have to be more appealing than QPR.

by Roa on Jan 28, 2012 5:39 PM EST up reply actions  

QPR now have rich owners willing to spend money

We don’t really have much more as far as pay goes…

by Adnan Ilyas on Jan 28, 2012 5:45 PM EST up reply actions  

Um rumor has it Jack is out for 6 more weeks………… Hyperventilates

by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 27, 2012 6:48 PM EST reply actions  

so....12 more weeks?

SBN Bloglist:
The Short Fuse (Arsenal, EPL)
Sactown Royalty (Kings, NBA)

by silverace99 on Jan 27, 2012 6:50 PM EST up reply actions  

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