Djourou loan move leaves Arsenal even thinner

It's yet another player out this summer as today Arsenal confirmed the departure of Johan Djourou on loan to Birmingham City.

Central defence was one of the few positions in the team in which you could say Arsenal had reasonably good depth, until now.

Arsenal now go into the new season, with only three proper centre-backs in Kolo Touré, William Gallas and Philippe Senderos, with Kolo obviously heading off to the African Nations Cup in January.

I like Djourou as backup, and I think many would agree he's probably a better option than the somewhat clumsy Senderos, so with less than three weeks of the transfer window to go, I have no idea what Wenger is thinking with this latest move.

Speculation has continued about a possible move for Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra. If he did indeed make the move across London, I suppose it's not unrealistic to think that Wenger might have plans for Gilberto at centre back this season, although I can't think why after that experiment failed so miserably last year.

Apart from that, our other options at centre back could be Bakary Sagna and Justin Hoyte, but neither of them really play there, and we can't continue playing so many players out of position.

It's a shame that instead of strengthening and dealing with problem positions like wingers, Wenger is just weakening our already-strong areas of the team.

Let's hope he has something in mind, because at the moment this looks like the worst move he's made all summer.

User Comments

david

Posted on 11 Aug, 2007 at 02:19 PM - Reply

well, no matter what wenger do, i think arsenal going be success this season and Senderos is good in the air so.... just watch

Stanley Ndidi Omolu

Posted on 11 Aug, 2007 at 09:30 AM - Reply

Frankly speaking, l wont hide my displeasure at Djuorou's loan spell to Birmingham. What is the boss thinking? why not the clumsy senderos. Djuorou is a better player than senderos because he's got lots of confidence. look at his perfornance against Man UTD at Old Trafford last season. l DON'T LIKE THAT DEVELOPMENT. Senderos would have done instead of Djuorou.

ott

Posted on 11 Aug, 2007 at 04:55 AM - Reply

It is actually a good move if none of the center-backs get injured. Djourou will get first team games all the way to January, along with our first choices, Gallas and Kolo. Come January, Djourou will be back to slot in next to Gallas and he comes in match-fit and ready.

kenada

Posted on 11 Aug, 2007 at 12:17 AM - Reply

he'll be back in jan, with a loan we can yank him back at any time in case of injuries and he will start every game with Brum so he'll get experience *Claps wenger*

nAcKaLa

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 05:47 PM - Reply

I think that u didn`t understand something :) Wenger gave Djourou to BC but he will be back in January when eboue and toure will be out of the squad. That`s why we bought Sagna, to replace eboue when he is gone. Wenger is the king of the deals !

vlcgooner

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 05:40 PM - Reply

If wenger is brining in another CB it will be experience, not Curtis Davies. He will not create a log-jam in front of his youngsters. He will look for somebody who will play for a year or two and leave. But I have no idea if he will do that...it doesn't sound like him. More likely: nobody!

RVP_the Don

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 03:32 PM - Reply

This is a good move and he will be back for the ACN, stop fretting guys

BonDecco

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 02:13 PM - Reply

I have faith! Wise words oh eduardo. Senderos is not that bad...is he?

Dublincon

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:55 PM - Reply

In the grand scheme, it will be good for him. I think Sagna could do a job in there, he looks great in the air (certinly a better option than playing Gilberto there)

zak

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:52 PM - Reply

Senderos always make me nervous :-(

mike

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:49 PM - Reply

Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, William Gallas, Mathieu Flamini, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue, Justin Hoyte, Armand Traore, Gilberto. All available to play in defence. plus its a loan so they can call him back if needs be.

Joel

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:39 PM - Reply

Wenger believes in Djourou. I really believe that. And the manager knows that Djourou will not get many games this season with Sagna in. The manager wants the kid to have the chance to grow and show what he can do.

It is good Djourou, it is not great for Arsenal but if next year, Djourou turns up with 28 appearances in his belt and a successful season establishing himself as one of the best centre backs in the country, it will look like a pretty cheap signing!

We have 3 centre backs left and 2 likely but not ideal cover like Gilberto and Hoyte. It's a gamble but there is a big reward if it works!

TD

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:17 PM - Reply

yeah i dont understand this one at all i'm afraid, especially with the ACN this year. Don't know about the terms of the loan deal and if he can be recalled for that period maybe?

EM

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:17 PM - Reply

look first of all never doubt Wenger. he has agreed to send him on loan until January where im sure he'll call him back as we will like you pointed out lose Toure. thats why Toure was not made captain. yoy can't lose your captain half way through the season. with gilberto unlikely to be back till september i think we are gonna see more of diaby and song which is gonna be good. if song turns out anything like rigobert in terms of strength and dedication and with the skills he showed for charlton, i think we have a great player. i agree with you that we are weak on the wings and i really wanted ribery but lets hope bayern don't get champions league next year again and we can get him for around 15mil

Sam Waite

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:10 PM - Reply

The loan is until January so he will be back when Kolo goes to the ACN.

admr

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:09 PM - Reply

it is a great idea in my mind...as long as Gallas stays fit then it will all be fine...wenger is a great manager and tatician...he knows what he is doing and we should not doubt him

Rich

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:07 PM - Reply

Another in a long line of ridiculous decisions. Let a player go without having an adequate replacement.

I can only presume that our Reserve Team CB who is also captain will be back-up? Oh no because he's loaned out to Colchester! Complete joke!

Bes

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:05 PM - Reply

This is a risky move - obviously Arsene has pencilled Djourou in to cover for Eboue and Kolo when they head off to the African Nations. To that end it will be good to have playing week in week out at the top level. The downside is if we're hit with injuries we could badly do with him there - I wonder if there's any provision to recall him early if we need him?

Jamie

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 01:00 PM - Reply

As usual Wenger believes too much in his power of judgement. I like the man but he is too much of a gambler and it makes all of us sick.

tiny

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:57 PM - Reply

unbelievable news.....whats is going on at our beloved arsenal. ship sendeross out he looks very clumsey at best and no pace. this is shocking!!!!!! do we really need to loan out one of our young most promising defenders with the africian nations coming up. oh i see we aint let go of alex song yet......gobsmacked

ronnie

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:57 PM - Reply

i just cannot understand why Arsene would let Djourou go on loan, especially with Toure off to the African Nations and Senderos being so crap

GunnerB

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:55 PM - Reply

Djourou's only on loan until January and the ACN starts in January so that won't be a problem. We'll have Senderos, Hoyte and (if we must) Silva as backup until January and that should be fine (Kolo never gets injured - he's made of steel...)

Begeegs

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:54 PM - Reply

I don't see the problem. It is only until January and Djourou will get some playing time.

1PerryGroves

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:54 PM - Reply

This is a ridiculous decission, i only hope that Wenger has a centre back lined up, possibly Curtis Davis? (As long as the yids don't get in first)

TL

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:53 PM - Reply

Wenger can't be planning on getting through to January with only three centre halves. There's got to be a Curtis Davies or other CB deal in the pipeline. Surely?

Chris Wright

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:53 PM - Reply

Wenger believes that Senderos will be cover enough until we lose Kolo to the ACN, when Djourou's loan finishes. Ultimately, it'll mean that Djourou will be a better player once he comes back in January, and has more responsibility. It surprised me at first, but you can see the logic in the move.

nibzyboy

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:52 PM - Reply

Interesting read! Coming from a Birmingham fan, I'm delighted by this - it looks like a great bit of business. You haven't got any decent strikers going too by any chance have you (Danes preferred, Egyptians prohibited)?

eduardo

Posted on 10 Aug, 2007 at 12:51 PM - Reply

oh ye of little faith. Why doo you think djourou is loaned out until january? To give him matches so that when Kolo departs he will be match fit to come in.

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