Would you be happy that Lichtsteiner is Arsenal’s first summer signing?

There have been an amazing amount of Arsenal transfer rumours since Unai Emery took over just a few days ago, but we have finally come across one that actually sounds like it could happen in the next few days.

It has been reported that the Juventus right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner was at London Colney on Friday to discuss terms on moving to Arsenal on a free transfer after his contract ended with the Old Lady after winning seven consecutive Serie A titles.

He may be 34 but he is extremely experienced and he could be very helpful as backup to Hector Bellerin, and also to impart his knowledge of defending to our new young defensive line-up. Anyone with a record like his will be highly respected by players like Rob Holding, Dinos Mavropanos and Calum Chambers as well as our senior players.

I would doubt that at his age he would be deployed as a marauding wing-back like Bellerin, but in a tight back four he could be extremely helpful, especially as we are desperately in need of defensive reinforcements to try and minimize our awful unforced errors that we saw too many times this season.

Obviously we have no idea of his fitness levels at the moment, but the fact that he played 36 games for Juventus this season must mean that he is still highly-rated by Allegri. If we can get a couple of seasons out of him on a free transfer then I have no problem with Emery making him his first signing. Do you?

Admin

67 Comments

    1. Its a very intelligent signing because he’s free,actually talented,experienced and can help Bellerin develop into a better player.
      To me he’s been better than Bellerin in all season even his break out season.
      Some people are making it look like Bellerin is far better and Litchsteiner is some kind of average player.

      1. Sokratis has told us he won’t be signing anymore as Utd have coming in with the extra offer of Champs league.The deal’s been hijacked.
        Soyuncu done in the region of £30m.
        Litchsteiner will be signing on for £70,000 a week for all those interested in his salary.

        1. STFU kev aka resourse or whosoevrr you are…
          Fed up with such bullshit inside knowledge.
          You talk As if you go to breakfast with sven luch with Raul and dinner with Gazidis.

          By the way why dont you tell us the eight shortlisted managers that gazidis was talking about while anouchung Unai?

          Yeah go on… Just blabber skme random names and we think you know everything.

          Arent you the same guy who said Lemar is a done deal?
          And also Mbappe?
          Quite a reputation you have to live upto.

        2. @kev no one gives a sh#t about all ur bs rumours. get a job in daily mail they r looking for ur @$$

        3. Thanks for the update gooner. I am very optimistic that our team will do better next season. We also need to strengthen our CDM position, a player like Nzonzi is what we are lacking at the moment.

  1. Bellerin has had nobody pushing him for his place for two seasons.Debauchy suffered too many injuries then was inexplicably sold by Wenger too early.Chambers does a job but would be the first to admit he is no fullback.AMN too can play there but is far better in midfield.Lichtsteiener is a quality squad addition for a couple of seasons and comes at no cost.Whats not to like about this deal

    1. The guy is better than Bellerin and I’m not even talking about this season but even in Bellerin’s best season he was better.
      The only difference is Bellerin is young.

  2. Big yes , as far as the Arsenal board decided to offer only £50 million for the transfer activity this Summer.Stephan Lichtsteiner is not a young player for the future being 34 years old , but he has a tremendous experience at the highest level offootball . If Arsenal keep Bellerin then the two will be excellent in the right back position as bellerin can get injured and he is the only right back at Arsenal . Bellerin can learn a lot from the experienced world class right back for a tear and mximum two years , but also we hopethearsenal board will offer better budget from tthe huge Arsenal wealth to rebuild Arsenal squad and turn the club to one of thepillars of world football.

  3. His age is my concern. We have enough players at 29+….. Yes I’m going to expect a backlash for my comment!! ?

    1. Sue we all love you too much to give you a backlash?
      If I could I would bring back Petit AND Podolski just for you

    2. Thats what we call rebuilding process you cant just do that with kids – next season we need players who are ready to hit a ground running – we tried that in the past with Senderos guess what?

  4. Good tranfser. it’ll probably be a 2 year deal anyways, and he’s just going to be backup in case Bellerin is crap again. Free transfer, low risk, fills up the squad, has experience winning, (isn’t a typical “nice guy” either). I dont see a downside. I dont think getting another young RB was ever on the cards. It’s clear Arsenal want to stick with Bellerin so i think this is a good transfer. And he majority of Juve’s games last season so his legs aren’t gone yet. Free transfers are usually the first deals to get done so nobody should panic that we are only looking for deals on the cheap all summer.

  5. I would definitely be happy if he is. He is more defensively aware and intelligent and his decision making is exceptional. Offensively, he is solid. He doesn’t just cross the ball because he finds himself on the wing. He actually thinks about what he does- crossing, dribbling, setting up others etc.
    I would give Lichtsteiner an automatic start when he arrives and have Bellerin fight for a position and then gradual having Bellerin as a starter mid way the season(Depending on form of course). He is BY FAR better than Bellerin, the only thing against him is his age. Give him a two year contract. He will help the team on and off the pitch because of his vast experience, and going by his form this season, he may have more than two years in him.

    1. To add to that I think we are signing a 17-year-old German RB from Hamburg SV so Lichtsteiner will be the temporary solution while the young German prodigy adapts to life and we slowly integrate him into the first team. The young RB whose name I can’t remember and am too lazy to google is already playing a bit of first team football so he and bellerin can both learn from Lichtsteiner as well.

  6. Could be great in midfield, or maybe as a centre back as well as valuable and needed challenger for RB position

    Great buy – if not headline grabbing

  7. We def need to sign a RB this season.

    Monreal and Kolsanic have been pushing each other. We have good quality at LB

    Bellerin has had it too easy. No competition. Ive even seen Nelson play in Bellerin’s position this season.

    I assume (maybe not) we will move away from LWB and go back to LB. We need sign A RB to push Bellerin to improve. He was very average last season

    1. If we can used Bellerin to get O. dembele i am for it – Barcelona has a very good right back who is surplus Alexis vidal he worked Emery at seville very good right side flank player

  8. Leichsteiner can help Bellerin a lot. He could also help bring through the next emerging RB in the academy . with his experience, he could also help the CBS because We’ll also be needing some experience at centre back, because Koscielny is not going to be in good shape, Per Mertesacker has retired, Mustafi isn’t good enough, and we have a whole group of very inexperienced hopefuls behind him.Lots to do, but back to my original point, finally someone who knows what they’re doing there to take care of it all.

    Also, before I go, remember this: Emery sold Soldado to spurs for £30m. #NeverForget ???

  9. And Fulham have been promoted a nice team I have been following at championship, It will be great to watch them hold their own in the EPL, my side chick when my first lady arsenal is boring

  10. I would not be happy at all to take on a 34 year old who is well past his best when we have a talented young man in AMN waiting on the wings.Indeed AMN could well replace Bellerin as our first pick RB as the Spaniard was far from impressive last season.

    1. A BLIND MAN CAN SEE AM-N is not a right back. But you think he is. Tell me why please?

    2. I disagree Sir, you have quality or you dont thats football i will take him in for RB any day and time what about Jenkinson that another option you have! few ago AC Milan won european cup with some players very close to their 40s Maldini , will sell Berellin any day if a have opportunity to do so.

  11. To be honest , I would be glad if my Aunt Gladys were Arsenals first signing, as long as she replaced the useless sham defender Bellerin. If he comes , even at 34, he has to be a huge improvement on “nice hair – if you like long lank buntop style- look at me, even though I can’t defend to save my life” Bellerin.

    1. Hi Me,
      I think it’s a little of both, with good reasoning to boot.
      With Kos out for ages, an experienced professional head to guide the younger players is sound thinking.
      Money wise, it doesn’t touch the 70 million budget supposedly set (which I believe is bull anyway) so for me a good piece of business

  12. Emery is the guy we really need 3 European cup back to back with Seville! with almost zero budget compare to Arsenal ,he is just clever to understand what he needs on pitch that number one quality for anybody who wants to be a coach not just talking shit over and over for ten years.

  13. Well done Fulham. Only time I went to craven cottage, was on my youngest son’s birthday. We won 3-1, and Podolski (my love) scored twice ? what a day!!

    1. Can’t help but chuckle every time I see Steve Bruce, some comedian guy said that Katie Price’s daughter Princess looks just like him ??

      1. It was a good game and glad Fulham did it. Grealish is a nasty piece of work and as for J Terry, nuff said!

  14. Lichtsteiner will be a good signing but can’t be considered anything more than a back up bench player at 34 yrs old. Emery will get Bellerin back to his best.

  15. Not a fan of this rumour. We need a younger player who will push to be first choice to at least give Bellerin a challenge. Lichtensteiner will sit on the bench and deputise.

    Understand the thought process though – especially with the minimal transfer budget

  16. I rather not take on Lichstiener, he has a lot of experience, his best years were when Juventus used a back 3, he was outstanding going forward, with a good final ball, however in the defense he was the weakest link.

    I would rather another young defender, to compete for the role of RB, with good defensive skills and pace, i really do not see the excitement, when it has been the ability to defend the main problem, Lichsteiner going up against the EPL tricky and speedy wingers does not interest me at all.

    Many mention EXPERIENCE, Bellerin has been playing at the highest level for the past 4-5 years, therefore if he does not know how to defend by know it is down to the coaching or a learning disability.

  17. Bellerin deserves a chance with a manager who will actually coach him to improve rather than the “you can do it!” mantra Wenger fed for years w no instruction. If he still fails, then we move to Lichtensteiner. Great signing if it’s true.

  18. good singing.
    with the small transfer founds, we can use free transfers.
    we can also sign Yaya Toure, Max Mayer and De-Virji for free, to leave enough money for top keeper, CB and a winger

  19. It amazes me how we r endorsing a soon to be 35 year old who was blatant average @ his peak to come and face the likes of martial, hazard, Williams, Sallah,sanchez,etc,a player released by juve to go and retire is now a wonderful choice for arsenal? Wenger ‘s First signing was a 23 years old viera and the results followed, now u r endorsing a 35 year old reject to be our first signing of the supposedly new era? How many 35 year old defenders r playing in man city, Liverpool, Tottenham Chelsea and man u? Italian league is a more tactical league than epl, epl is more about energy and pace and u r saying the best competitor belerin need is a 35 year old reject? Jezzzz

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors