OT: odds better now that Clint [Demspey] goes to [Arsenal] Gunners? [Soccer]

Submitted by superstringer on

Question for the futbol affecionados (hey, its the offseason).  Now that van Persie is leaving the Gunners, are the odds any better that Clint Dempsey gets his wish to play in the Champions league by signing with Arsenal?  He's been rumored to be linked to Arsenal for a year or more. 

Plus, now there's this huge squabble between the American majority owner of Arsenal and his minority shareholders, which probably is what pushed van Persie away.  Don't they need to make a bit of a splash.  Dempsey isn't van Persie but he was the #4 scorer int the EPL.

Or is Chelsea also going to be a possibility, now that Drogba has gone all wang chung* crazy for lo mein.  They are very different styles but they need to replace a few goals now.  Both Didier and Clint were particularly good at scoring crucial goals when the team needed them.  (Not saying Dempsey is as important or as good as Drogba; if I were picking a team, Drogba would by the first striker I take, the guy is just a winner.)

Just an American hoping Dempsey can get out of a team that will never be higher than 10th or so on the table....

* This was a reference to a bad song of the 80s that was lyrically but nebulously referential to a Chinese term, which actually was entirely made up by the artists.  Apparently the PC Policy think its actually a racist reference, so as not to offend even the most sensitive among us, I changed the reference.  Geesh.

ND Sux

July 6th, 2012 at 9:36 AM ^

what you are talking about, I assume it's soccer.  I don't get the buzz, but I do know this is an exciting time for soccer fans, so enjoy. 

MGoPietrowski

July 6th, 2012 at 9:43 AM ^

It was pretty clear as soon as they signed both Podolski and Giroud that RVP was on his way out. I think it all comes down to money, and Wenger. I don't know if the guy would sign an American. Lord knows he'd let half the french national team take a collective dump on his daughter's chest, but an American I am not so sure. 

BlueAggie

July 6th, 2012 at 10:11 AM ^

I've resigned myself to the idea of Dempsey leaving Craven Cottage this summer, but I still think it's more likely that he heads to the continent than to another EPL team.  And I really can't see Fulham selling their best player to Chelsea.  That would be a complete gut punch for the fans.

At this point though, if he moves to another English side, I can't see it being anyone except Arsenal.  They have the Champions League spot, and the need for another attacking player.  Plus, Dempsey is well settled in London, so it wouldn't be as major of a move as Italy or France or Germany.

EDIT:

And what's with the knock on Fulham?  They are a solid third tier team in the EPL, which means they'll keep contending for spots 7-10.  Did you miss the part where Dempsey popped a BEAUTIFUL goal against Juventus and Fulham made a Europa League final?  One that they lost in extra time to Diego Forlan and Athletico Madrid?

goblue7612

July 6th, 2012 at 10:09 AM ^

I may not be the most politically correct person out there, but did you really just use the term Wang Chung to signify that Drogba signed with a Chinese club? Could you get more racist? Could you not just say, "now that Drogba has signed with a Chinese club" instead of "now that Drogba has gone all wang chung." Unless that is some new sort of slang that I haven't heard of, it seems like you're just making fun of the Chinese language and names. No sarcasm, you're a racist dick.

singler makes …

July 6th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^

Well, he got more insensitive when he editted his post with the sentence still very visible and an asterix to make fun of people with different beliefs.

 

So yeah, I'm betting he could get more racist as well.

 

Reminds me of

 

Roachgoblue

July 6th, 2012 at 10:10 AM ^

Why do soccer players act like they are hurt before they are even hit. They then delay the game by acting like pussies. I played soccer in high school, because I was weird. Other than one pussy from England we never did this shit. Do kids do this now in soccer? They should yellow and red card these assclowns. It is embarrassing and a reason I can't argue with friends that soccer is fun to watch.

Michiganguy19

July 6th, 2012 at 10:37 AM ^

I want him in the EPL and on a bigger team. I love the cottagers thing they have going... but I want him on American TV more, and Arsenal would make that happen. 

As for his goal total, he was on a good but not great team. And due to his own history of PK misses he doesnt even take his teams PKs regularly. So 4th in goals is actually a hell of an accomplishment.

AA2Denver

July 6th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^

Dude, your thread title completely confused me.

Answer, NO. Clint is too old for Arsenal and they settled on Giroud. Maybe Kronke let RVP go so they could sign an American, but who knows. I thought he was going to Liverpool which really isn't an upgrade these days so I'm not sure he makes that move. I'd like to see him at Arsenal, or a top Italian club but alas I think he's staying at Fulham, which is a good club and he's the man. Clint on a team with attacking and skilled feeders would be cool, imagine him with Pirlo at Juventus. 

Callahan

July 6th, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^

I don't think Giroud and Dempsey are the same player and I don't think Arsenal's interest would be for the same role. I think Arsenal would play Dempsey on the wing. Giroud is (supposedly) going to be a forward. It would actually make sense because that would allow Arsene to play Walcott at forward, where many feel he'd be more effective anyway. (And honestly, he's never been incredibly productive on the wing. You can remember some big goals he's scored or set up, certainly, but there are far more games where he just disappeared. Mikel Arteta had a much greater effect on Arsenal's goal-scoring (through RVP, natch) than Walcott did. Shit, you could probably say the same about Alex Song. 

turtleboy

July 6th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^

Arsenal has gone after veteran players before. They signed Gallas, and recently resigned Sol Campbell in his last years, they went after Arteta to be a first choice midfielder, got Benayoun on a 1 year loan, and even this season play Henry again, despite his declining production, and wanted to extend his loan spell. They were pretty desperate for a second, or even third body that could score, so its not too far fetched. Besides, RVP will turn 29 this upcoming season, and Clint is already 29.

turtleboy

July 6th, 2012 at 11:56 AM ^

I think the chances are good. As it turns out, signing Podolski and Giroud didn't improve the team, with RVP leaving they just broke even. They need more depth at forward (they have depth, but they need goals) and Clint can play left or right wing, anywhere in an attacking trident, as a lone striker, or as a number 10. I remember reading an English sports blog talking about how good a fit for such a pittance of a salary he'd be almost 2 months ago, but now they can use him.

Callahan

July 6th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^

I don't think Van Persie's staying or leaving was going to have an effect on Arsenal's interest/lack therof in Dempsey. However, I would love it if Dempsey did go to Arsenal. The team severely lacks toughness and could use someone like him to provide an aerial threat and he's better made for the EPL than Gervinho and even Theo Walcott. Arsenal could do much worse on the wing.

gopoohgo

July 6th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^

Actually, I thought a post very similar to your comment (Jeremy Lin having a bad game, "chink in the armor" on Espn mobile) got someone fired.

Welcome to the joys of political correctness, enjoy your stay.

To your post, I think Dempsey would ride the pine @ Arsenal, would love to see him goto Germany and play in the Bundesliga with most of the US National team excluding the goalkeepers.

Thought I read somewhere he wanted to stay in the EPL tho, and his wife wanted to stay in/near London in particular.

steviebrownfor…

July 6th, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^

1. Liverpool

2. Arsenal

I would like to see him leave the EPL and join a top French or Italian side.  He needs to be playing Champions League football, but the top 4 in EPL are pretty loaded.

The last thing we need is for Dempsey to go to Spurs and be the next Dos Santos.

Huss

July 6th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^

I sure hope they're not after Dempsey, and it appears they're not - thankfully.  He's a great player, sure, but Arsenal needs to have bigger aspirations and signing a 29 year old forward/mid tweener without great pace isn't a need.  He doesn't really fit in their 4-3-3. 

I do hope Deuce plays CL football somewhere, though. 

steviebrownfor…

July 6th, 2012 at 5:41 PM ^

Deuce could be a target man at Arsenal, which is probably where they are looking to put him.  Sure he's 29, but he was also one of the best goal scorers in EPL on what is - outside from Dempsey, Duff, and Dembele, a garbage team.  Further, if they sign him to an 18-month or 24 month contract, what have they got to lose?  he's not very expensive considering his production.

Deuce is one of the most accurate finishers in EPL.  He would NOT start every game at striker/target man for Arsenal, but that's the beauty of his versatility.  I think Deuce would fit in just fine at Arsenal - they play beautiful, smart, one-touch football, and Dempsey is football-smart and cheeky enough to make it work.