Gregory van der Wiel

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -Wiel.html

Arsène Wenger goes Dutch again as Arsenal boss eyes £7m Ajax full-back Gregory van der Wiel

make another raid on the Dutch League after sending scouts to keep tabs on Ajax full-back Gregory van der Wiel.
Van der Wiel, who has recently broken into the Dutch national team, is also being watched by Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, leading Ajax to slap a £7million price tag on his head, says The Mirror.
The Arsenal boss has already had success in going Dutch when signing Robin van Persie from Feyenoord in 2004 and Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax this summer. And the right-back, 21, first caught the Frenchman's eye after Gunners scouts began to watch Vermaelen.

Wenger is eyeing further competition for the squad's current right-backs Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Eboue, and the 6ft Dutch defender could fit the bill.

Very promosing right back, is at the moment a regular player with Ajax and a regular right back with the national team.

Vieuws?

Sagna and Eboue not enough? If we absolutely had to add more squad depth, RB is the last place in defense we should look.

Sagna and Eboue not enough? If we absolutely had to add more squad depth, RB is the last place in defense we should look.

Maby a case could be, but maby people call me crazy when i even think about it but.

Gallas gone after this season or Eboue, lets say its Gallas, maby Sagna will move to CB with Vermaelen? if Eboue moves De wiel would be a good back up.

Can van der Wiel play in central defence?

He started out as central defender before becoming a RB.

well since eboue is playing everywhere but RB, would make sense to get another RB if wenger has no faith in gavin hoyte and gilbert, than no reason not get another dutchie with a cool name.
as a bonus he plays at CB and probably 11 other positions, so yeah.

Don't know, I - like a lot in Dutch football - wasn't too impressed with him saying he was unable to play for Holland because of a brain injury, but he had no problems going to some rap concert & was even stupid enough to twitter about it.

Apparently Lil' Wayne is really good for concussions.

Don't know, I - like a lot in Dutch football - wasn't too impressed with him saying he was unable to play for Holland because of a brain injury, but he had no problems going to some rap concert & was even stupid enough to twitter about it.

Do you think some of the concerns raised in Belgium about their youth, could spill over into Holland, if it hasn't already? Personally, it's only a matter of time before the sport is infested with an even greater number of scumbags. Footballers shouldn't have access to so much money at a young age, because it can and will corrupt their minds. There was once a time when they were taught humility by cleaning the boots of senior players, but now they're driving Mercs and would probably laugh at having to do that.

The ironic part of that statement, outlaw, is that Spurs - who have some of the most arrogant asses around - are forcing their young players to do just that.

I've got no real problem with young players acting dumb. They're supposed to be stupid when they're kids. The problem is that some of them never grow up. I don't think it's about the money. It's about most clubs not giving a damn. I'm glad that Arsenal at least are trying to turn their prospects into good people as well as good footballers.

Think he'd be a good buy. We're well stocked with LB's even taking into fact that we'll have Pedro next season.

As for RB I think Eboue's going to be a right midfield/attacker and never a defender again if this goes through.

Don't think Sagna will be a good CB though.

Wenger is tracking Dutch right-back Van der Wiel - having already snapped up Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax for £10m in June.

Van der Wiel, 21, has been capped five times by his country. He has built a reputation as an exceptionally fast defender and a January move is being looked into.

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/foo ... R=Football

Saw him yday against Dinamo Zagreb, wouldn't notice him if he wasn't mentioned here, apperently he can also be a CB?
On the other hand Dinamo's RB/CB Lovren was fantastic.

Looks like quite a talent but two things:

1. Who would he play ahead of in our starting XI?

or

2. Would he be happy to sit on the bench?

Think he'd be a good buy. We're well stocked with LB's even taking into fact that we'll have Pedro next season.

As for RB I think Eboue's going to be a right midfield/attacker and never a defender again if this goes through.
Don't think Sagna will be a good CB though.

I recall a couple of articles last season where AW & then Eboue said that he was a midfielder now who sometimes covered defence, as opposed to being a defender who covered midfield etc. Basically he's another added to the long list of AW converts.

Dutch defender dreams of Gunners future

GREGORY VAN DER WIEL hopes Robin van Persie has put in a good word for him with Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.
The Ajax right-back has been watched by the Gunners and Manchester City recently but has hinted that he would love to play at Emirates Stadium in the future.

After graduating from the Under-21 side to the full Holland line-up, he is expected to make an impact at the World Cup finals so his valuation looks certain to increase.

Van der Wiel has spoken to Dutch colleague van Persie and told the media in his homeland that he would be open to playing under Wenger once he feels ready to make the move to England.

"To develop, I need to play well at the World Cup," he said. "That is the only thing that counts now.

"What happens next, we'll see. Of course, I would want to make the step up to play at a beautiful foreign club.

"But, for now, I am settled at Ajax.

"Of course it's nice to read that Arsenal are interested.

"I feel I'm also able to adapt to the English league.

"Robin van Persie has told many good stories about the Premier League, Arsenal and Mr Wenger.

"Maybe he's put in a good word for me!"

www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football ... -MOVE.html

Think he'd be a good buy. We're well stocked with LB's even taking into fact that we'll have Pedro next season.

As for RB I think Eboue's going to be a right midfield/attacker and never a defender again if this goes through.

Don't think Sagna will be a good CB though.

This, and/or Eboue is sold.

Saw him yday against Dinamo Zagreb, wouldn't notice him if he wasn't mentioned here, apperently he can also be a CB?
On the other hand Dinamo's RB/CB Lovren was fantastic.

How does Lovren compare to Subotic? They're both promising, versatile, 20-year-old giants with plenty of club experience that are starting to break into their NTs.

Out of all the areas this team needs strengthening in, right-back is not one. No thanks.

Didn't people use to say that before we signed Sagna too?

I'd argue that it is, relativistically. Eboue and Sagna are both 26 and we don't have any exciting youngsters coming through at the position. We should sign someone with the prospect of becoming Sagna's successor within a couple of years. Not as important as getting a keeper and a centreback perhaps, but still.

We can do better than both Sagna and Eboue. If this guy can pull a Maicon and both defend and attack,then you have an upgrade over our current right backs. If Eboue goes to midfield and we finally let that poor boy Gilbert go, we will be down to one recognized right-back.

Of course, if we buy this guy and leave central midfield, defense and striker unattended to, I will lose it.

We can do better than both Sagna and Eboue.

Sagna is quite easily one of the ten best fullbacks in the world. You'd have to dig up a new Thuram to better him to the right. That he doesn't shine in this team speaks volumes about the turmoil in front of him, not his ability.

I have been very critical of Sagna's offensive game but having inept players in front of him hasn't helped him one bit. In his first season, he was behind Hleb but since than Eboue, Bendtner, Walcott, Nasri and Rosicky have all played there and some of them have put extra pressure on Sagna to perform. We really need a quality RFW.

We don't need another RB and if we buy one most people will not be happy to see players coming in positions we are stocked up in.

Didn't people use to say that before we signed Sagna too?

I'd argue that it is, relativistically. Eboue and Sagna are both 26 and we don't have any exciting youngsters coming through at the position. We should sign someone with the prospect of becoming Sagna's successor within a couple of years. Not as important as getting a keeper and a centreback perhaps, but still.

26 is old now Klaus??

They could go on at the top level for at least 7 more years.
It would be ridiculous to start buying more young RBs and AMs when we are full in those positions.

26 is old now Klaus??

They could go on at the top level for at least 7 more years.

It's not particularly old, no. And sure, they could, but history tells us that they won't. Except for Bergkamp and the two centrebacks I can't remember a single player during the last ten years who have lasted long past thirty. And that's not taking injuries into account. Or the fact that Eboue is a winger nowadays and a catastrophy as a right back. It would be stupid not to strengthen if we had the option to do so.

Arsenal Ready to Complete £12m Starlet Summer Deal: Wenger Leads Chase
The double Dutch combo of Dennis Bergkamp and Robin Van Persie could hold the key to Arsenal’s ambitions to sign Ajax’s 22-year-old right back Gregory Van der Wiel.

Reports coming out of Holland suggested that Arsène Wenger could face competition from old adversary Jose Mourinho in the race to capture a sought-after signature.

The Arsenal boss has apparently been keen on the youngster for the last two years, and has sent a number of trusted confidants to watch the Dutchman as well as asking the opinion of Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.

Wenger first noticed Van der Wiel when he sent scouts to monitor former Ajax captain Thomas Vermaelen, who has already become established as a key player for the Gunners.

Van der Wiel is focused on Ajax and the world Cup at the moments but, looking at the long term, he admits: “Of course I want to play for a big club in Europe.

“Of course it’s nice to read that Arsenal are interested. I consider myself a good fit for the Premier League.

“Robin van Persie has told me many good stories about the Premier League, Arsenal and Mr Wenger, so maybe he can put in a good word for me.” (Give Me Football – Official PFA Website)

With impressive Bacary Sagna at the club one would wonder whether Arsenal would need to bring in fresh faced Ajax man Gregory Van der Wiel to the club but clearly Arsène Wenger is the type of manager wise enough to plan for the future even if he already possesses one of Europe’s best right backs in his Emirates squad.

With a Dutch presence at the club the north London club could well be ideally placed to snap up the impressive youngster. Arsenal raided the Amsterdam outfit last summer to bring in the excellent Thomas Vermaelen to the club and could well be ready to invest in £12m rated Van der Wiel this summer.

Ajax have had trouble keeping their best talents for the best part of a decade as any up and coming player looks to further their career with a move away from the distinctly average Eredivisie and surely the Dutch international would welcome a move to the Premier League and will no doubt feel that a boss like Arsène Wenger would be ideal to getting the most out of the full back.

Gunners fans will no doubt feel a striker and perhaps another keeper option would be more urgent use of the club’s transfer cash but they would probably still welcome the addition of a youngster who has a good level of experience under his belt.

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2010/02/20 ... ads-chase/

Not the strongest link in the world, but we have been persistently linked with him for a long time now. I have to say after watching Eboue today, and as much as I love Backary Sagna, a right back who can beat people and has real ability on the ball can be the most devastating of weapons, especially in our system, when the fullbacks are pretty much ignored by the opposition, and given acres to work in.

I remember being really impressed with Van Der Wiel when watching a couple of Ajax games from last season. I was watching to see what Vermaelen was like, but this kid, who I'd never heard of, really stood out. If Wenger were to sign him it would only be because he feels he can become a great right back, otherwise why bother? He already has the 2 very, very good right backs at both ends of the attacking/defensive scale. Maybe van der Wiel can grow into a mixture of the two.

I have a sneaky feeling we may just sign him in the summer.

Hopefully we don't. Right back is the last place I want us to spend a good lot of money on, regardless of the quality of the player.

We keep getting linked with right-backs though. The links to van der Wiel and Azplicueta won't go away.

I think with the change in formation Wenger has realised that maybe we need a little more from our right back going forward than Sagna can offer. van der Wiel is similar to Eboue going forward, but he started out as a centreback and can actually defend.

The formation change is another reason why I think it won't take Kieran Gibbs long to take Clichy's place.