Arsenal keeping an eye on Barcelona’s Valdes – But Why?
Arsenal spent a long period of time searching for a goalkeeper this summer, as either a replacement or worthy competition for current club number one Wojciech Szczesny. The club failed to bring in any of the goalkeeping targets mentioned, in Real Madrid’s Iker Casillias, Lazio’s Federico Marchetti and Liverpool (now Napoli goalkeeper) Pepe Reina. Eventually we ended up signing Serie B side Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano on a season long loan on transfer deadline day, however the reports will not stop about Arsene Wenger’s determination to find a new keeper.
Alongside those names mentioned were also the likes of QPR’s Julio Cesar and FC Barcelona’s Victor Valdes. And it’s the latter name that hits the headlines again, with the latest reports suggesting that THREE Premier League clubs are looking at the Spaniard’s services. Those three clubs are believed to be Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, with English newspaper Metro being the main source of news. The window may have now closed for a few months but the rumours never usually stop, especially when players make comments like Valdes has in the past few days.
The Spanish international goalkeeper stated: ‘I have spoken with the club without problems but my choice has not changed – I am happy for this season and after, I leave.’
Valdes’ contract ends in the summer and I think that’s why there is so much interest in the man that’s won many titles with the La Liga club, however despite the fact he is on a free transfer this summer, I still don’t think I’d be overly keen on Arsenal signing him.
Valdes is often prone to errors and to be honest we already have enough of those players at Arsenal, but on a more serious note, many believe that the only reason why Valdes is rated so highly is because of the strength of the Barcelona defence and also the fact they can often outscore their opponents no matter how many goals Valdes lets in.
He is error prone, clumsy and seemingly overall just a very poor excuse for a goalkeeper once his individual performances are analysed. Signing Valdes would be a real mistake in my opinion because although he may be free, he will be on massive wages as well as high expectations and so to be honest I’d just much rather stick with Szczesny for the time being.
Hopefully this is nothing more than an escalated rumour, but with a fair few months until the window opens, hopefully this story will blow over in due course because Valdes is really exactly what we don’t need at Arsenal.
