Manuel Almunia Released By Arsenal As The Great Gunners Fire Sale Begins…

Alan Duffy

23rd, May 2012

12 Comments

 By Alan Duffy

After initially ousting Jens Lehmann between the posts for Arsenal, Spanish ‘keeper Manuel Almunia never really impressed enough to secure the no.1 jersey for the Gunners. Now, after spending over a season on the sidelines, the 35-year-old has finally been released by Arsene Wenger. And with a whole host of fringe players bumping up the wage bills at the Emirates, expect a whole load of Arsenal squad players to be sold or released in the coming months.

So who’s for the chop? Well, the list is pretty long, to be honest. So here goes…

Denilson, Andrei Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastien Squillaci, Lukasz Fabianksi, Vito Mannone, Gavin Hoyte, Marouane Chamakh, Park Chu Young and Carlos Vela are all heading for the exit, with some expected to stay with their current loan clubs and others forced to look elsewhere for football. Add in the possible exit of Johan Djourou and Abou Diaby (and maybe Henri Lansbury) and that frees up a hell of a lot of cash for new signings and increased wages.

With all those players leaving, one wonders if any Premier League clubs will be eyeing an Arsenal cast-off or two? Surely Arshavin could be a decent purchase for the likes of Fulham (a move has already been rumoured) while given more football, Chamakh and Park could only improve at another, less high-profile Premier League club?

Wherever those players  go, this summer could see Monsieur Wenger finally start to show a more ruthless side as the Gunners look to finally end that pesky trophy drought. Or he could just spunk it all on a new water slide…

 

Posted in Arsenal, Transfers & Rumours

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12 Comments

  1. Professor Erno Breastpinchd says:

    zzzzzzzz

  2. Luke says:

    Definitely some quality on offer in frees this season.

    Nigel Reo-Coker, Michael Owen, Salomon Kalou, David Hoilett, Danny Guthrie, David Dunn, Gretar Steinsson, Florent Malouda, Jose Bosingwa, Drogba, Andy Johnson, Danny Murphy, Craig Gordon, Gomes, Diame, Figueroa, Rodallega and Scharner.

    Pretty good business to be done.

  3. Toz says:

    Nigel Reo-Coker? Michael Owen?

    Good God…those would be awful at Blackburn who have been relegated, let alone Arsenal.

  4. Milkchew says:

    Jesus Luke! You say quality players then open with Reo Coker and Owen……wow!

  5. Luke says:

    For free and as a squad player Reo-Coker wouldn’t go amiss for lower table teams and as much as I can’t stand Owen, if he went to a lower table club his goalscoring record speaks for itself.

    Forgot to mention Berbatov as well.

  6. Luke says:

    And forgot to mention those players I mentioned aren’t necessarily good – just the bigger names.

  7. Luke says:

    And Toz I never suggested they would be good for Arsenal. They aren’t necessarily good players – just the bigger names from the Bosman list.

  8. Toz says:

    @Luke

    Fair enough, jumped the gun perhaps.

  9. Hutchy says:

    Love it if Arsenal got Drogba though. unlikely, but it would be brilliant

  10. KampalaGun says:

    As always you could tell Arsene a lot of trash but you will never know who he is gona buy,so just wait for the unexpected. I also think he is not going to let go all those players as he will be keeping some.
    He found out this season that experience pays.

  11. fouldsy says:

    all these free players?! GIVE ME FM 2013

  12. Ramsey too has to be chopped then buy Mvilla. if we can have Song,Mvilla, Arteta,Benayun and Rosicky I am sure this will be the best middlefielders for arsenal to win a trophy.

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