Arsenal In £50 Million Summer Spending Spree

Plagued with injuries throughout the season to the extent that a new/old goalkeeper had to be brought in for back up, as well as being tormented with off form players slipping up a crucial times in massive matches, and Arsene Wenger is understandably frustrated. He must be wondering what he has done wrong to deserve the punishment of seeing his loyal but exhausted players suffer in this way. It isn't all bad when you consider Arsenal's position in the table - three points behind the leaders with a game in hand - but this season could have been about so much more than just the Premier League crown.

It is perhaps no wonder then, that Arsenal are being linked to two big money players to boost the squad this summer - give it some well needed depth, diversity and energy. These two players are Bolton's Gary Cahill and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. I honestly cannot see it myself. It isn't that the two players wouldn't fit into the squad; Cahill, a strong, reliable, often goal scoring centre back would be welcomed in the beleaguered defence, while Benzema will have no shortage of fellow countrymen to communicate with (not to mention being a top class front man).  The rumours really get unbelievable when the price is quoted.

Cahill and Benzema are being valued at £25 million by the news sources. That's £25 million each. Probably around £40 million more than Wenger would dream of spending. His cautious, low profile approach to the transfer market has caused plenty of frustration among even patient supporters, as they await their first trophy for six years. It may yet come this year, but it will undoubtedly be very close, and with all of the teams around them certain to improve their squads in the summer, Arsenal do not want to be left behind at the start of next season in a year which looks to be even more competitive and tight than even this year has been so far.

Manchester United are apparently Arsenal's competition for the 25 year-old Cahill. United have seen a Vidic - Smalling partnership blossom in the absence of the seemingly always injured Rio Ferdinand, and if Ferdinand ever does receive further injures which is highly likely, United will need a top quality replacement. There have also been unsettling murmurings of Vidic's future as a United player as his wife apparently doesn't like it in Manchester. The Wes Brown - Chris Smalling defensive partnership has been poor so far, and Sir Alex will look for a new defender to banish any defensive worries in the future.


A bidding war is something neither side would want however, with Arsenal's reluctance to spend, and United's crushing debts reducing the possibility of big money signings.
The website states;

"The Trotters [Bolton] are bracing themselves for bids in the summer, and both Arsenal and Manchester United are expected to come to the table at some point with an offer for the England international.

Chelsea are also thought to be keen on landing the player, with the west London outfit also interested in the 25-year-old former Aston Villa defender.

Arsenal are still thought to be favourites though, although the Gunners will have to fight hard to see off Manchester United if these claims are to be believed."

Meanwhile, Wenger is supposedly a "big fan" of Benzema who was bought by Madrid from Lyon for £35 million two seasons ago. It is easy to see why, as Benzema has masses of exactly what Wenger is always looking for, craving for, searching for: "potential".

17 goals in 52 appearances this season isn't to impressive, but his previous form is far more impressive, with one season amassing 20 goals in just 36 appearances. A partnership of van Persie and Benzema would also be a vast improvement to what they have at the moment, and would add he depth up front which has been lacking.

Sir Alex Ferguson had tried to bring Benzema to United before he joined Madrid, but I doubt he would be after him again after being turned down already.

How Did Vidic Get Red and Not David Luiz?

You may say it is a tad hypocritical for a Manchester United fan to say that the referee was unfair, inconsistent or incompetent considering the recent and well documented occurrences involving match officials and United. Fair enough, United do get the odd lucky decision their way, but tonight, Manchester United were the unlucky ones, with too many decisions changing the game unfairly in Chelsea's favour.

Wait! Before I go any further, credit where credit is due, Chelsea played far better than United in the second half. They controlled the game, they stopped us from creating, they scored more goals. They were the better side in the second period, and I am happy (not really happy actually, more angry) to admit it.

My notes tell me however, that United were far superior in the first half - at ease on the ball, dominant in possession, creating good opportunities, and overall, threatening Chelsea far more. My notes tell me that because it is true.

United played well down the wings, in a surprisingly open game. A Malouda shot early on, saw the Frenchman in acres of space only to weakly shoot into van der sar's chest and welcoming arms. This was countered with a United attack which saw Evra break into the box, only to swipe it across the goal mouth, agonisingly avoiding any United players contact.

29 minutes in however, United broke the deadlock, and allowed hopes of a very rare away win at Stamford Bridge, arise to the surface. It was a cute little interchange between Nani and Rooney, Rooney took a touch, and with Robin Hood accuracy, arrowed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. It was a great finish, and was, according to the statistics, Rooney's first goal outside of the box since February 2008 when he scored against Newcastle. It is his seventh League goal this season, as he continues to build his suspect goal tally.

As the end of the half neared, Chelsea realised where they were, and what they were doing, subsequently deciding that they better go for a goal rather than allow United to walk all over them. Their sudden interest meant a chance which showed just how valuable Mr Van Der Sar and Mr Vidic are. A sublime double save, and some quick thinking defending to scramble the ball away from goal after a Lampard free kick bounced around the area helped United go in at half time in the lead.

Now to the second half. The period where it all happened. Chelsea's decision to go for the win prompted an early response. The ball bounced to David Luiz to the left of the area, who was somehow clear of any defenders and Evra reacted too late to stop the ex-Benfica defender from smashing in an impressive volley which rifled past van der sar.

It was 1-1, and an hour had been played. Drogba came on for the ineffective Anelka to join the equally ineffective Torres up front. Then Giggs came on to replace Scholes, making his 606th Premier League appearance, equally Sir Bobby Charlton's record.

David Luiz. David Luiz. He looks like Sideshow Bob, a criminal from The Simpsons, and he acted just like that with at least two very bookable offenses. He got booked in the first half for a vicious and late tackle on Carrick, and then, in the second half, at a vital, vital time in the game, he stuck out a leg to cynically block off a Rooney run. It was off the ball, obvious, and unfair. It should have been another yellow and a red. It wasn't even a free-kick.

It is moments like that which change games. True enough, not long after that, Smalling gave away a penalty for much less than what Luiz did. Lampard duly scored which turned out to be the winner, causing United's second loss of the season, and a big, undeserved blow to the title chase (which Chelsea are out of).

Nemanja Vidic however, did get sent off. Player of the year so far, he tugged down Ramieres outside the box to receive his second yellow and his marching orders meaning he will miss the next game against Liverpool. In my opinion, this sending off is worse than the loss. Ferdinand is out with injury, Vidic has been United's rock and is now out, which puts more pressure on the young defender Chris Smalling.