Juan Manuel Mata

[Bergkamp10]

Arsenal have apparently bid £18m for him....Graham Hunter said we're definitely talking to Valencia. But if Barcelona want him we have no chance which is why I'm hoping they get Sanchez.

 

[Ode to Django]

I really like Mata, would love to see him at Barca, but on the other hand i don't really wanna see him leave Valencia because that will just make them even weaker & La Liga even less competetive

 

[Aryagorn]

I really like Mata, would love to see him at Barca, but on the other hand i don't really wanna see him leave Valencia because that will just make them even weaker & La Liga even less competetive

I think so too. But he looks destined to leave anyway, even if we don't involve. This is different to say Navas situation. Still there's some guilty feeling about it

 

[Barcafan 2304]

Rossi and Mata, forget Sanchez

 

[Plip]

I really do have a soft spot for Mata.

Wouldn't mind having him at Barça.

 

[.blitzer]

I like Mata, but I'd prefer a more explosive winger.

 

[Sammy the gonner]

You guys see him often, i watch alot of liga due to sky sports but you will have more knowledge. Do you think he could fit in arsenal and the prem?

 

[Metaphysical]

for Arsenal he would be magnificent.

he could play either wing-position (although him + Nasri on the wings would obliterate any width in the side) but most crucially for Arsenal, if a certain twat of a Dutchman got injured again, he's perfectly capable of excelling as a False9 (as we saw over the last few weeks) and so could step into that role and allow Arsenal to continue to function as normal.

you'd really really really really really really really need some new full-backs if Nasri and Mata are gonna be your starting wing-forwards, though.

if just one of them will start, then you just really really really really need a new left-back.

 

[Aryagorn]

for Arsenal he would be magnificent.

he could play either wing-position (although him + Nasri on the wings would obliterate any width in the side) but most crucially for Arsenal, if a certain twat of a Dutchman got injured again, he's perfectly capable of excelling as a False9 (as we saw over the last few weeks) and so could step into that role and allow Arsenal to continue to function as normal.

you'd really really really really really really really need some new full-backs if Nasri and Mata are gonna be your starting wing-forwards, though.

if just one of them will start, then you just really really really really need a new left-back.

I know Mata loves to cut in, involve more with the play and all... but with Cesc/Nasri dictating the play from the mid field Mata wouldn't need to cut in so much. He has very good cross on him and can maintain width well. So I'm not sure the emphasis need to be that much, about the signing a fullback thing.

They of course need a LFB anyway... but the signing need not depend on whether Mata is Left Forward or not IMO

 

[barcaboy15]

for Arsenal he would be magnificent.

he could play either wing-position (although him + Nasri on the wings would obliterate any width in the side) but most crucially for Arsenal, if a certain twat of a Dutchman got injured again, he's perfectly capable of excelling as a False9 (as we saw over the last few weeks) and so could step into that role and allow Arsenal to continue to function as normal.

you'd really really really really really really really need some new full-backs if Nasri and Mata are gonna be your starting wing-forwards, though.

if just one of them will start, then you just really really really really need a new left-back.

Agreed he'd do very well at Arsenal, I think he is a very good player, but he wouldn't really help at all if (/when) Van Prickie is injured as Arsenal rely on him completely for goals. I mean, who's gonna score? Bendtner & Walcott?
Arsenal really need a striker for the minimum few months Robin is gonna be injured but they haven't really been linked with anyone yet?

 

[Bergkamp10]

for Arsenal he would be magnificent.

he could play either wing-position (although him + Nasri on the wings would obliterate any width in the side) but most crucially for Arsenal, if a certain twat of a Dutchman got injured again, he's perfectly capable of excelling as a False9 (as we saw over the last few weeks) and so could step into that role and allow Arsenal to continue to function as normal.

you'd really really really really really really really need some new full-backs if Nasri and Mata are gonna be your starting wing-forwards, though.

if just one of them will start, then you just really really really really need a new left-back.

Agreed but i think Nasri would move into midfield because I doubt we'll sign Mata unless Fabregas is leaving.

 

[Aryagorn]

Agreed he'd do very well at Arsenal, I think he is a very good player, but he wouldn't really help at all if (/when) Van Prickie is injured as Arsenal rely on him completely for goals. I mean, who's gonna score? Bendtner & Walcott?
Arsenal really need a striker for the minimum few months Robin is gonna be injured but they haven't really been linked with anyone yet?

Mata is a very good player centrally... with good eye for goal. Even from the wings he's got very good goal-to-shots ratio & composure.
Of course he is not as good a striker as RvP(who is one of the best IMO) but definitely a worthy understudy

 

[Bergkamp10]

Agreed he'd do very well at Arsenal, I think he is a very good player, but he wouldn't really help at all if (/when) Van Prickie is injured as Arsenal rely on him completely for goals. I mean, who's gonna score? Bendtner & Walcott?
Arsenal really need a striker for the minimum few months Robin is gonna be injured but they haven't really been linked with anyone yet?

I hate the 'zomg walcott is shit!!1" brigade, he's scored 13 goals in 38 appearances this season and the strongest part of his play is his goalscoring!

 

[barcaboy15]

Agreed but i think Nasri would move into midfield because I doubt we'll sign Mata unless Fabregas is leaving.

So,

Arshavin (or Walcott?) - Nasri - Mata

V.Persie​

Still think you'd need to sign a top striker to play ahead of V.Persie? And also, thought Arsenal were getting Gervinho for €15m-€20m or was that just transfer talk?

 

[Bergkamp10]

We're close to signing Gervinho....

Yeah it would be something like that but eventually Gervinho for Arshavin/Walcott once he's settled. Get the impression Wenger will put Theo upfront more this season.