Everton boss David Moyes is set to finalise the signing of Arsenal centre back Philippe Senderos in the coming days.
Switzerland international Senderos has been at Arsenal for six years, signing from local side Servette at the age of eighteen. Since his transfer, Senderos has failed to cement a first-team spot at the club and managed just over sixty league games in his time at the club. Senderos spent last season on loan to AC Milan, where he also failed to hold down a first team spot.
Although Senderos has only features sporadically in his time at the Gunners, he has featured often enough for us to know that he does have plenty of potential. He was part of the famous backline that kept ten straight clean sheets in their run to the Champions League final in 2006, and started Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Manchester United in 2005.
Senderos is an intimidating presence on the pitch and (unlike our other centre backs) is rarely outdone in the air. Strong on the ball and strong in the tackle, the 24-year-old also posesses leadership qualities that belie his age. His concentration does let him down on occasions, and he has been prone to the odd blunder at the back. Opinion on Senderos’ quality is divided among Arsenal fans, but I’d certainly rather him at the club than Mikael Silvestre.
If Arsene lets Senderos go, not replacing him will prove to be a huge mistake.
It is likely that Senderos is leaving to pursue regular first team football, something that he won’t get at Arsenal. That’s completely understandable, and with Joleon Lescott set to join Manchester City he’d be a walk-up to start at Everton. £6m is the price being touted, and that seems fair to me. It would bring our transfer income this summer to £45m, and some of that cash must be invested back into the side if Arsenal are to succeed this coming season.
Heading into the coming campaign with Willy Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen being backed up by only Johan Djourou, Alex Song and Mikael Silvestre is a recipe for disaster. Another centre back will be needed that can fill the void between Djourou (solid back-up), Alex Song (primarily a midfielder) and Mikael Silvestre (’nuff said). It’d be even better if we could sign a player that would push Gallas and Vermaelen, but that might be expecting a bit much considering the latter’s recent arrival.
Apart from another central defender and central midfielder I think we’re just about set. I’m feeling strangely optimistic about our chances this season, and only a couple of new additions will be required for us to really challenge. We have the best player in the Premiership in Andrey Arshavin, and our young squad has another year of experience under their belt. Get someone in to complement Cesc and then boost the defensive stocks and I think we’ll surprise plenty of people this season.
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A terrific article & if he signs for Everton I will have mixed feelings about him. He clearly has great potential but crikey, I remember he was regularly a laughing stock on Match of the Day quite a while ago witn some awful blunders & his concentration is greatly suspect. Hopefully Everton will help him advance his game
At last a bit of good news,doesn’t that picture say it all,bye,bye sendydross
everton will probably get a bit more out of him,but at arsenal it is never going to happen
Senderos wasn’t the worst defender we had. Even the very best we had i.e. Adams, Keown, Campbell had horrendous days and Big Phil can only get better.
I wish Wenger loaned him instead of selling him outright and I suggested he do this when Sunderland were apparently interested in buying him.
The problem is when we play a really high backline and any defender who isn’t fast i.e. Senderos, Cygan etc will look stupid when the ball is played behind them.
I wish him all the best if he goes but man I do feel sad to see him go, more so than when Toure left because that means that 3 players have left (4 if you include the big player Bischoff lol) and we have only signed one.
Why on earth do would you want to sell Senderos especially considering the fact that you let Toure go. I just don’t want to see Silvestre in the center of defense for Christ’s sakes!!
He would be a good acquisition for us, if Lescott goes or even til we get Jagielka back around November. Reminds me of our own Joey Yobo, solid and skilful but prone to some unexpected blunders (and Wenger was actually after Yobo a couple of seasons ago). Has had good schooling at Arsenal and if Moyes could possibly coax out the very best in him, we’d have one hell of a player. Well done to the Gunners with that late winner against Atletico by the way and good luck for the season (except the opening game)
Bring it on evertonian i like d competition.
If he goes then we’ve got to replace as Djourou looks like a younger Senderos. If wenger only wants 2 more players at most this season looks like we may improve but as for trophies it would be another write off. As most of our retired players have pointed out, our needs are obvious – fast striker, dominant dm and cb, three excellent players.
i do not want this donke,hes never been a footballer we havnt got money but id pay 6 million to arsenal to keep him
I hope im wrong… But Wenger won’t win another trophy for the arsenal…
We are so small minded now, making last minute decisions, have no money to spend..and if we do it will be for some unknown player with ‘potential’..
No stayers at arsenal, we are becoming are laughing stock becuase we ARE a selling club..theres bo doubting that..
Im not particularly blaming this souly on AW… But something surely stinks at the top level management… NO BALLS GAZIDIS and crew..