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Arteta Agrees New Five Year Deal !!!

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I'm expecting him to go, that way I won't be disappointed, and it will be all the sweeter if he stays.

I know they're just rumours, but I wouldn't mind if he went to Arsenal or Barcelona.

Man City, however, is a completely different story.
 
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It's very difficult to find a reliable sport newspapers in Spain, but "El Mundo Deportivo" is in general considered more serious than "Sport". Barca squad at the moment is extremely thin, so even if Arteta would be a bench player in hipothetical CL final, he would play many games, at least next season. Just don't get what they would do with him, when they will buy Fabregas next year.

But as long as Arteta won't go to Arsenal, I'm okay with that.
 
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Former Real Sociedad player Arteta is gaining admirers in Catalonia because he is seen as a player whose defensive skills are more developed than Fabregas.

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Are they sure?
 
stinger said:
It's very difficult to find a reliable sport newspapers in Spain, but "El Mundo Deportivo" is in general considered more serious than "Sport". Barca squad at the moment is extremely thin, so even if Arteta would be a bench player in hipothetical CL final, he would play many games, at least next season. Just don't get what they would do with him, when they will buy Fabregas next year.

But as long as Fabregas won't go to Arsenal, I'm okay with that.
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He's already there mate! To Barca you mean?

I agree with LCAB about the national team. It looks like the only way he'll get call up is by playing for a Spanish Club. Whether he'll get enough games to make an impact to that extent is another thing.

If he has to go anywhere I'd rather it was somewhere in Spain though, as long as it happens quick and we get our £20M in time to spend it on a decent replacement.
 

Blue_in_london said:
Former Real Sociedad player Arteta is gaining admirers in Catalonia because he is seen as a player whose defensive skills are more developed than Fabregas.

​
Are they sure?
Click to expand...

That's true, Arteta's is a much more disciplined playmaker, Fabregas is more of a drifter, he likes to play further forward. For a playmaker, Arteta's defensive game is very capable, and in Spain the role is more about positioning and distribution, certainly in Barca's case, who always dominate possession.

I doubt this is true though.
 
The Spanish sports papers generally speak a load of tosh, I used to buzz off them so not likely true.

However, if he returned to Spain then I'd be gutted but wish him all the luck in the world, he's been tremendous for us.
 
chicoazul said:
The Spanish sports papers generally speak a load of tosh, I used to buzz off them so not likely true.

However, if he returned to Spain then I'd be gutted but wish him all the luck in the world, he's been tremendous for us.
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Yeah, I don't think anybody can hold it against him if he went to Barca. Would give just about anything for it not to happen, but I wouldn't blame Mikel at all and would wish him the very best.

Having said that, I really doubt they want him.
 
Ok so assuming they did want him and he wanted to go (who could blame him?), do you think we'd squeeze enough out of them for Landy and A.N.Other? And who would A.N.Other be? As a passionate Northern Ireland fan i do have a lot of time for Steve Davis, i think he's a very useful player..
 

If we would lose Arteta, then Donovan is not the most urgent acquisition for us, Steven Defour (or somebody similar) is. If any money will be left in kitty, than we can think about Donovan or other players.
 
stinger said:
If we would lose Arteta, then Donovan is not the most urgent acquisition for us, Steven Defour (or somebody similar) is. If any money will be left in kitty, than we can think about Donovan or other players.
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Don't reckon we can go back for Banega then?

I ccould maybe see Osman or Rodwell stepping up but yeah I agree. Unfortunately replacing like for like will be hard. Deep laying playmakers cost money especially ones as good as Mikel.

And if we can't replace him theres worse tactics then improving other areas of the squad to compensate (i.e buying Donovan).
 
Artetafan said:
Don't reckon we can go back for Banega then?

I ccould maybe see Osman or Rodwell stepping up but yeah I agree. Unfortunately replacing like for like will be hard. Deep laying playmakers cost money especially ones as good as Mikel.

And if we can't replace him theres worse tactics then improving other areas of the squad to compensate (i.e buying Donovan).
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Banega is one of the few Valencia players who are not for sale.

I think Defour would be perfect solution for us - he has a great understanding with Fellaini, Standard Liege finished 7th last season, so not only player is willing to leave, club could accept a lower price in my opinion.

Problem is I don't see many other available candidates, but I'm quite sure Moyes will know better.

Pienaar, Osman and Rodwell can do the job occasionally, but neither of them can do it every week.

PS. A few days ago I saw Sporting Lisbon in friendly game, Pedrom Mendes is another player who would fit perfectly, too bad we weren't interested two years ago and last winter as well.

And Moutinho, ekhm...
 
Were the RS not recently sniffing around Defour? I agree that Donovan doesnt fill the hole Arteta would leave behind, but surely attacking creativity is more important than looking for a deep lying playmaker seeing as free spaces at the back of a midfield 5 are already at a premium? As long as any move is made soon and we have time to look for someone else, i'd totally back Mikel if he wanted to give Barca a few years. Prob his best chance at getting long overdue Spain caps too..
 

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