[Rumour Rater] Arsenal Transfer News, 23/08: Riccardo Montolivo and Mikel Arteta | Arsenal Blog & Arsenal News

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[Rumour Rater] Arsenal Transfer News, 23/08: Riccardo Montolivo and Mikel Arteta

Written by James on August 23, 2011 – 4:45

Just like last season, The Gunning Hawk will bring you every day throughout the summer one article with the most creative and sensational Arsenal transfer rumours. To know more about this section and for how long it will be online, kindly visit our forum.

August 23

Cesc Fabregas is yet to be replaced by Arsenal and as punctual as a Swiss watch we today have two creative midfielders linked with a possible move to the Club.

According to Italian website Football Italia, Arsenal have joined Bayern Munich in the race to sign Fiorentina outcast Riccardo Montolivo. The 26-year old is in a similar situation to Samir Nasri as his contract expires next year and he has no intention of extending it this summer and with Bayern Munich’s director of football Christian Nerlinger rubbishing rumours about a possible move for the 26-year old could it be that the Gunners are hot favourites to land the Italian?

In other news, The International Business Times believes that Everton’s Mikel Arteta is another player monitored by the Gunners as a possible Fabregas replacement. The 29-year old was first liked with the Gunners in 2008 and last year, Jack Wilshere confessed that he “could easily play in a team like Arsenal”.

And before moving on to today’s poll, a look at yesterday’s results in which we collected more than 3,000 votes and with Brazil’s Kaka, who today unfortunately rubbished the rumour, getting an impressive 1,600+ votes from our readers. High votes for Yann M’Vila as well as he gets more than 1,250 votes.

As always, please let us know your preference on today’s linked players and don’t be shy to join the discussion in our newly-launched Arsenal forum.

Player Profile

Riccardo Montolivo

Date of birth: 18/01/1985
Place of birth: Caravaggio
Age: 26
Height: 1,81
Nationality: Italy, Germany
Position: Central Midfield
Foot: Right
Market Value: £16.5m

Mikel Arteta

Date of birth: 26/03/1982
Place of birth: Donostia-San Sebastián
Age: 29
Height: 1,76
Nationality: Spain
Position: Midfield
Foot: Right
Market Value: £13m

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sam says:

August 23, 2011 at 6:16

haven’t you heard? actually arsene wanted big signings this summer and payrise for his senior player ie van persie, nasri etc… he’s been fighting the board all summer and they put restrictions on transfer dealings and refused to pay for nasri.
why do you think he’s threatening to cup-tie nasri and doesn’t care if he goes for free next summer? his bosses are happy to sell to city and won’t spend for a suitable replacement.
we lost out on benzema, mata, ricky alvarez because of they are refusing to spend, chamberlain deal is only 6 millions up front plus add ons. especially if we qualify for champions league arsene there will be no more signing. they care more about champions league because of huge profits.
time to lay off arsene wenger.

Reply to this comment »
- Rocky Jay says:
  
  August 23, 2011 at 6:37
  
  this story has been going around for quite a while now. But the only source of this story is an unnamed insider!
  How true is this story?
  I do not believe it. I think its just a ploy from the AKBs to get all other fans off Wenger’s back.
  P.S. The board is responsible for the current fracas but Wenger is equally responsible!
  
  Reply to this comment »
  - sam says:
    
    August 23, 2011 at 7:33
    
    could be also usmanov pr machine running the story he must be licking his lips now.
    anyway, there could be some truth in it because we all saw how much he fought to keep cesc and nasri.
    
    Reply to this comment »
Nezquik says:

August 23, 2011 at 16:56

@prince steo
I would have to agree… Wenger has lost the plot now. I’m for Van Persie because he is a true gunner.
How can Arsene Wenger let a player like him rot in our ranks by not trying to get him a trophy. Arsene rather fatten the clubs piggy bank than getting better players to put around vP. smh

Reply to this comment »
mzeey says:

August 23, 2011 at 18:27

2004 man +WA= 49 unbeatn
2005 man+WA= manu hunteddown facup in the house
2006 5050+WA= UEFA CL 2ED place
2007 …kids+WA..2011 nothing less then 4th in the table and allways pass the stage round in the UEFA CL
trophis will come but the real problom must be solved the borad and there spending policy. then 2011man+WA=PLE,FACUP
2012man+WA=PLE,UEFACL,FACUP

Reply to this comment »
- Dandini says:
  
  August 24, 2011 at 13:06
  
  It would help if you learned to express yourself in the English language, then we could all share the ramblings of your confused mind!
  
  Reply to this comment »

sam says:

August 23, 2011 at 6:22

now he’s only hoping they sanction eden hazard deal before the window closes and lille want 20 millions.
lets hope he wins the battle, this sharky arsenal bosses are amazing. time they wake up and smell the coffee time for cheap deal is gone even french team and south americans won’t sell on the cheap.

Reply to this comment »

Berk Face says:

August 23, 2011 at 11:48

I just cannot believe that:

(a) Wenger silently take all this flack if the board weren’t backing him
(b) the board wouldn’t back him

Arsenal need a go-to man to dictate play in midfield and they need more than one – some drive and power would be nice too. As it stands there is Wilshere. Maybe the plan is to release Song to drive forward more with Frimpong sitting.

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young gunnerz says:

August 23, 2011 at 6:43

We need better players not bargain players. I have a feeling that nasri wants to leave because Fabregas was leaving and Arsenal have not shown any intent to improve the squad with world class players.

Reply to this comment »

Plev says:

August 23, 2011 at 6:53

Motolivo would be a great signing. He only has a year left to run on his current deal and Fiorentina are struggling financially, so he should be cheap! 10m or so. He WILL be moving on, and I hope it’s Arsenal that pick him up. If we’re going cheap it will be either Montolivo or Marvin Martin. If we going big it will be Hazard.
I guess Arsenal are looking because early indications are that Ramsey is not ready to run the midfeild (or at least needs help). And as much as I like him Rosicky is just a solid back-up.
There are other similar midfield playmakers that we should be looking at as well (that are reasonably priced). Honda, Kagawa, Kroos, Dzagoev to name a few.
Arteta would be nice, epecially as he could walk into Arsenal’s line-up and do a job, for obvious reasons. But if Everton want 20m for Jagielka then I don’t see them taking less for their playmaker. Which is a joke because Jags is worth 10m tops and Arteta maybe slightly more. Everton are kidding themselves with some of the prices they slap on their players, and its for that reason that Arsenal will NOT be signing anyone from them.

Reply to this comment »

Berk Face says:

August 23, 2011 at 14:03

But they are Everton’s players so they can say what they will accept – may not be what they are worth but it’s their price.

As much as we need to loathe Spurs, you have to say they’ve done a great job with their player contracts and keeping hold of everybody.

Reply to this comment »

kelvin says:

August 23, 2011 at 8:16

wenger will not buy this year wenger is just deceiving him self and if it back fire he will ran to france to take psg fc

Reply to this comment »

Steve of Chiang Mai says:

August 23, 2011 at 8:33

Arsenal need a Cesc replacement and a Nasri replacement and some cover at CB/DM. Hazard, Montolivo and Jagielka would do nicely. I especially like that Montolivo is >1.8m would give us a chance of winning the ball in the air from midfield.

Regardless of what the Wenger haters think, the story of the board being cheap makes sense. The Arsenal board has history in this regard and I just cant see a football genius like Wenger getting these outcomes unless he was severely hamstrung.

I would also like – just once – for the moronic “Wenger Out” brigade to suggest a viable alternative manager because the blank face of Pat Rice looking to the upper tiers @ Emirates last week was rather disconcerting. As I said last week elsewhere, if Arsene went under a bus on the way to Udinese Pat Rice looked very much like someone who would need to ask for instructions to tie his shoes.

Reply to this comment »

Berk Face says:

August 23, 2011 at 14:06

Rice looks like Wenger’s ventriloquist doll

Reply to this comment »

Pri says:

August 23, 2011 at 8:39

Well i think Andrés GUARDADO can also be a good replacement for nasri

Reply to this comment »

summerbreez says:

August 23, 2011 at 8:40

and still have not found what we are looking for

would love to see Riccardo Montolivo and martin marvin and matasacker in Arsenal jerseys

but that is my choice

who are the players on MR wenger thoughts or is he even thinking to sign new players

seeing Arsenal these days is painful they are so weak and i cant do much about it

but keeping silent and hope for the best

Reply to this comment »

Edgems4 says:

August 23, 2011 at 8:43

More hot air……Leave with we gooners.On paper,we have “signed” virtually all the best players in the world but on the ground,even the few good who remain want out…..Shame to that goat Wenger and his arrogance.

Reply to this comment »

Ugoo says:

August 23, 2011 at 8:46

Its indeed a difficult time for both arsene and the fans now,bt its certainly necessary these things happen to strengthen the resolve of both sides. We indeed need players in arsenal now in order to face the more revitalized man u,mancity etc. One thing is sure,after the rains comes sunshine.

Reply to this comment »

Abnet M says:

August 23, 2011 at 10:25

always fans are pointing their fingers to the board. by the way who is the manager of the club Arsen so who knows the board the manager is not acting like a manager. if you remember Benetez the former liverpool manager was exposing the truth to the fans that he couldn’t buy players so there was a clash b/n the fans and the the owners. every body should know this that Arsen should expose the reality behind the curtain. even to the extent of leaving his position. before we vote this thing should get clearer.

Reply to this comment »

steve says:

August 23, 2011 at 10:28

I havn’t renewed my season ticket,i’m just waiting to see what we have done regarding
srengthening, our very fradgile,and injury prone,ARSENAL F.C. I’ve been an Arsenal
sopporter for over fourty five years,and i’m not very impressed the way that the club is been
run,if i don’t like what i see when the transfer window closes,”ENOUGH IS ENOUGH I’M OFF”.

Reply to this comment »

Patrick O'Neill says:

August 23, 2011 at 12:23

Yes you might be “off” but you will still be an Arsenal supporter, it’s in your blood. I started watching Arsenal in 1966 and I would like to walk away but I cannot. I believe that this Board are just a bunch of grey suited businessmen who know nothing about the passion of football. They have banked the Cesc money and have no intention of replacing him except with kids. AW should come clean and criticise the Board, if he is not in it with them

Reply to this comment »
- Berk Face says:
  
  August 23, 2011 at 14:18
  
  What do the board gain though? If they intend to sell then a successful team is the best thing for them. One bad season will see them having to invest in the squad or the brand name is in danger of sinking lower and lower.
  
  Reply to this comment »
  - Patrick O'Neill says:
    
    August 23, 2011 at 14:55
    
    They haven’t worked out yet that empty seats means less money. At present there are generally no empty seats but that will not continue to be the case as Saturday against Liverpool showed. There were empty seats which is unheard of against Liverpool. Usmanov needs to be the owner not Kroenke and the only way the fans will achieve this is by not turning up – unfortunately they have to hurt the club in the process. But what is the alternative, I don’t want to be pessimestic but I can definitely see defeat against Udinese (we should have lost the first leg)! Also, people talk about finishing 5th or 6th. IMO that would be good. I believe we could be fighting relegation if this goes on. Also I really do believe that AW is covering for the Board of useless c…nts. And Lady B-Smith is carping on about the Board but she sold her shares to Kroenke.
    
    Arsenal fans only have one option open to them. Stop going to matches and hurt Kroenke.
    
    Reply to this comment »
    - Berk Face says:
      
      August 23, 2011 at 15:37
      
      I expect Udinese to see us go out. We’re a team low on confidence and they’re everything we’re not right now – spritely, athletic, purposeful – 1-0 was robbery and we nearly made it 2-0 which would have been outrageous.
      
      Like you, I’m not worried about a bad season – think a wake-up call is needed after years of achieving the bare minimum of CL qualification. Feel sorry for Wilshere – will he like Fabregas be another class act carrying a load of average players.
      
      Reply to this comment »

goratileone kgwadu says:

August 23, 2011 at 10:56

I do not think Arsenal will make any signings. A lot of players have been linked to the team i support by heart and it looks like there is nothing taking palce

Reply to this comment »

Gunner says:

August 23, 2011 at 14:11

You maybe right GK! Will they make any signings at all? Agree with PLEV totally Jagielka is worth 10 or 12, not 20.
I read something this morning that tells me I have had it with Wenger! Nasri has the cheek to ask to be left out of the squad for Wednesday, and Wenger says okay Samir??????????? What is up with this????????? Nasri is an Arsenal player and because he ‘might’ be moving to a CL rival, he does not want to be included in the squad??????????? and Wenger is cool with that??????
Wenger has lost it. Can anyone out there seriously envisage seeing Sir Alex saying ‘okay’ if Rooney ruled himself out of playing a match because Rooney did not want to jeopardize a ‘possible’ transfer????????? The answer is ‘NO’, Furthermore, I think it is pretty clear what Sir Alex would say!!!!
When is this guy going to get to hell out of here???? He is so arrogant now that he is telling the manager what games he will play in and what he does not feel like playing in?????
Honestly he and Fabregas are something else!!!!! Samir if you are going, GO!!
On second thoughts, JUST GO, and take Wenger with you!! Maybe then we can get a manager who manages the players, as opposed to the players managing him??????????

Reply to this comment »

Patrick O'Neill says:

August 23, 2011 at 14:19

SAF has only been held to ransom once by a player, Rooney. When Rooney said he was leaving last year “because he wanted more signings” his wages were doubled because SAF panicked, not that Rooney had any intention of leaving, he just wanted more money!!!!

Reply to this comment »
- Gunner says:
  
  August 23, 2011 at 14:27
  
  What you say might be true, but it still is not relevant to this case at all!
  A manager manages players, if Nasri is one of your best 11 then he plays, simple as that. If the manager jeopardizes the team strength because he feels a certain call to help the career of one player, then he is putting loyalty to one player above the team.
  Sorry but that is not ethical management, and it is unfair on the other players!!
  
  Reply to this comment »
Gunner says:

August 23, 2011 at 14:21

A BBC report says that Nasri traveled with the team, so my info is wrong. If Wenger is a manager, he plays him, if he is not, then he wont play him!!

Reply to this comment »
- Patrick O'Neill says:
  
  August 23, 2011 at 14:57
  
  Nasri has just agreed to join ManC. Goes for his medical today.
  
  Reply to this comment »
Berk Face says:

August 23, 2011 at 14:25

’sir’ alex can afford to spend double what Arsene can and offer double the wages Arsene can. Life is a lot easier when you’re at the helm of a club with one of the, if not the largest fanbase in the world giving you huge revenues – so comparing the two isn’t really fair. Were Arsene at Man Utd he’d have won more titles and with better attacking football – imagine if he didn’t have to lose most of his best players to richer clubs all these years with Arsenal – or selling them to pay for a stadium.

Reply to this comment »
- Gunner says:
  
  August 23, 2011 at 14:35
  
  Yes what you say about wages and size of MU is true. However I have to respectfully disagree with your assertion that it is ‘unfair’ to compare the two.
  Why so?
  If Nasri is one of your best 11 and still being paid by Arsenal, then he plays!!! simple as that!
  If Wenger decides not to play him because it might mean he cant take part in Man City CL games next month. Then Wenger is demonstrating loyalty to one player over the team he is managing! Not fair on the team.
  The fact that it is an inconvenience for Nasri is just too bad!! Get over it Nasri, you play!
  
  Reply to this comment »
  - Berk Face says:
    
    August 23, 2011 at 15:44
    
    Because Arsenal can’t afford to play hardball on these things – they can’t afford to turn down £20m for the sake of one season.
    
    It’s bad management by somebody that he has one year left but Rooney was similar before they gave him £160k a week. Easy when you can do that to tie down your best players.
    
    Reply to this comment »
    - Gunner says:
      
      August 23, 2011 at 16:05
      
      I agree getting 20 million is important for Arsenal, versus nothing next year should he leave then instead.
      However it sounds to me like you are saying getting 20 million for Nasri now is more important than keeping him for another year? Disagree with that winning is more important
      I guess Wenger has to ask himself will Arsenal win a trophy if they keep this guy or not? If yes, then keep him and bring in one or two extra this week, go ahead and win it. If not then decide that now, and get rid of him now.
      A manager is there to produce a winning team, if he is left out on Wednesday then the manager has decided that getting the money is more important than sending the best 11 out to play Udinese
      A decision like that also tells me one of 2 things:
      That the manager does not think he is that good because he would prefer to get 20 million for him and take a risk on losing early in the CL.
      It also tells me that the manager does not think Arsenal will win if they keep this guy.
      End of the day guy, players should not mange teams, that is the managers job. If the managers jeopardizes team strength for any reason, he is not doing his job
      
      Reply to this comment »
      - Steve of Chiang Mai says:
        
        August 23, 2011 at 19:03
        
        Nasri is replaceable though it might not be easy…20+ Million pounds will never be replaced if Nasri walks in 12 months time. Besides he could give us what he gave us last year or worse the previous years and we have kissed off 20M for 3 months of fireworks and nothing when it really counted. A truly world class player would have lifted the team when they needed it most.
        
        Reply to this comment »
        
        Joe says:
        
        August 23, 2011 at 19:50
        
        nasri is world class.
        
        unless i was 19 i wouldn’t want to play for this team at the present moment either.
        
        Reply to this comment »

DennisLKF says:

August 23, 2011 at 19:37

AW, pack your bags and GO!

You are a stubborn old man and we trusted you for 6 years already!

We are very very patient already. Yet you have cheated us for so so long….

It is time for you to go to a club where fans believe that youth can buy glory. No Arsenal fans anymore.

Reply to this comment »

Scott says:

August 23, 2011 at 22:59

Joe,Nasri has been world class for three months,do dont kid yourself..
He has as much talent as anyone out there,but talent has not equated to performance consistently enough. He is greedy,end of section.
Wenger is the best manager in the game.
You can only use the tools available to you,and that he has had us so competitve at the highest level for so long is a tribute to him.
Only an absolute idiot would suggest that he does NOT want better players at the club,and a bigger fool to believe the board does not dictate what he can and can’t spend.
Unfortunately,most Arsenal fans fall into both categories.

Reply to this comment »

Simon says:

August 24, 2011 at 3:49

Arteta? We’re scraping the bottom of the barrell now.

Reply to this comment »

Abnet M says:

August 24, 2011 at 15:33

Please the time is running we left with 7 days for the transfer window to be closed. i don’t think the manager is even striving to replace at least those who have left the club. we always say that the club is free from debt. they can buy players and so on. we can clearly see in man city that how it is good to buy players and to have enough squad. they have finished third this year. i’m not saying that Arsenal should buy like MC but you can learn that this days every club is getting strong so we have to also act like others otherwise we are going to relegated. the football science is being changed.

Reply to this comment »

dickto says:

August 24, 2011 at 16:45

I agree with you in the current games there is no gambling the quality you have in your team determines what you get at the end of the season. Im sorry to say that we may not reach the level we used to coz teams are arming to the tip and we are just watching. Either the board or AW i dont know who is bringing the club down.

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