About this time last year if you were asked whether you wanted Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in your team you'd probably have been pretty excited by the prospect.
The man was a goal-machine, albeit in a weaker Dutch league, but was untested in a stronger European one. However, he has a strong goal-scoring record at international level.
He signed for Real Madrid in January 2009 and the move ended up being a nightmare for him. The Hunter became a victim of Real Madrid going back to their old-school 'Galactico’ policy and in short, was shipped as soon as possible.
The move to AC Milan in the summer of 2009 has been a bit of a bastard to Huntelaar too. He has been kept out of the team and has struggled to regain the type of form he showed at Ajax, the type of form that gave him the nickname 'The Hunter'.
His country, Holland, are one of the favourites for the World Cup in 2010 but the Dutchman has been warned that he is expected to be playing regular football if he wants to go to the World Cup. He isn't getting regular football at Milan, that's for sure.
In fact, he's probably getting the hump with all the splinters in his arse from the bench.
We have been linked with Huntelaar numerous times over the years and I have to say that many Gooners were upset that we have never signed him. Maybe Wenger has seen reasons not to sign him? Maybe he felt that 'The Hunter' wasn't good enough for Arsenal or the English Premier League? After all, he hasn't really set Spain or Italy alight has he?
My take is that in the past he would probably have cost a huge amount of money and we know that Arsene Wenger sees a players valuation and won't go higher. We were probably priced out of a move. Nothing wrong with that. I'm only assuming mind.
In my opinion, now could be a good time to make a move. It may seem that 'The Hunter' has been a flop over the last 12 months but I honestly feel that he could thrive at Arsenal. And we need a striker.
If circumstances had been different for him at Real Madrid then we could be looking at a player who is top-scorer in the Spanish league. It's not his fault he wasn't a big enough name for the 'Galactios'.
His confidence has probably sapped due to his time at Madrid and Milan have hardly helped matters. He hasn't really been given a chance to show what he can do there and to see a fat Ronaldinho playing if front of you can't help.
He needs to be revived. Arsene Wenger is the man for reviving players. A player with an undoubted scoring ability, desperate to go to the World Cup, and one who wants to prove himself in a top European league. Sounds good to me.
We need a striker, I see no reason why 'The Hunter' can't have fresh breath breathed into his careers lungs and at the same time help Arsenal to trophies.
Keep it Goonerish...........
29 comments:
NO!
isnt he cup tied? Would prefer Dzeko over him any day!!
its a big risk..bedtner cming back..he shd b given his chance to prove to b the main striker..v need no striker to buy
i remember a certain dennis bergkamp having a few nightmare seasons in italy before bruce rioch took a chance on him at 7.5 million and he prob goes down as our best player of that decade if not all time.
grab hunterlaar now he just needs some confidence him and van persie would be amazing line up.
I agree with your comments and also have a sneaking suspicion that Huntelaar could thrive at Arsenal. Something about him says he is a class act, but I cant see AW taking the risk unless he was v. cheap.
The "Hunter" is a good aerial threat no doubt about that, but I dont see AC letting him go even if he is sitting on the pine bench...especially if they know we would want him then they (Milan) would just jack-up the price for him and AW would'nt go for that anway, so a good article none-the-less but i can't see it happening. I do agree we need a forward now that RVP is out, and we cannot expect Nikky B-52 to come in and light the world on fire, he hasn't as of yet so I don't see it happening anytime soon. I don't know whose out there that could fill the need, but I would love to see a GK first then a forward then some MF reinforcment.....
Also would take time to get his confidence back which isn't what we need. Ideally, we need someone who can come straight in a do a job.
He is just another Kezman! Don't want him - hasn't got the spped or flair to be a gooner!
speed*
I say give him a go.
Take the risk coz the guy has been told he's gotta play regular football and IMO he'll bust his balls to impress his national team manager. Dzeko may be better but will also cost double what we will be able to get "The Hunter" for.
We need a striker and he needs to regain his form and under Wenger's guidance he WILL come good.
We need someone to lead our line and why not him?
Does anyone else have any realistic suggestions for a striker?
Aussie Gooner
I would have to trust wenger on this one. if he sees enough in Huntelaar then I am all for it. wenger rarely gets it wrong when buying older, more experienced players for decent money.
the trouble is if we dont buy a striker I think we become too reliant on Nik B. can he stay fit?
Wow..that's great..
I am looking forward to the partnership of him & our top striker Van Persie..I'm sure that will blow all the competitor's head off!
no disrespect but id rather we go for adriano. if wenger gets it right ( as he usually does ) hes a hero agen, if wenger is wrong, no one says anything because adriano is a free. it simply cannot go wrong.
I think he would be a very good addition to Arsenal, I know we have Bendtner but be honest how many goals does he actually score in a season, very few. RvP is the main striker but unfortunately his latest injury will take him all of this season and well into the summer to recover and then who knows whether he will be his old self again. So I would like to see Huntelaar at Arsenal, depending on how much it would cost.
I'd love to be wrong, as I was one of those who wanted us to sign Huntelaar from Dutch football, but I now don't think we should because:
1. Unless we're going to sell, I don't agree that we need a striker: we have RvP, Eduardo, Bendtner, Vela and Arshavin.
2. If we do buy a striker to address the short-term issues, he has to be an immediate solution. Huntelaar may recover but his experiences and failings at Real and Milan suggest that will take time.
3. Am not convinced he's good enough. Not only has he failed at two big clubs in big leagues in quick succession, but his international record isn't as good as suggested: just 5 goals in 12 comepetitive games, and none of those against strong teams. His other goals for Holland were all in friendlies. The only context he's succeeded in has been domestic Dutch football, which these days isn't good enough on its own.
Wenger hasn't gone him Huntelaar for a reason, and I trust that judgment.
We may well have RvP, Eduardo, Bendtner, Vela and Arshavin, but only Arshavin is fit and/or playing well out of all of them.
I don't know if Hunter & RVP are pals in the Holland team, but to me their pairing has the making of a real class act.
However I also believe that a world class goalkeeper is the greater need right now. So Almunia saved a penalty against Hull, this only masks what a poor No.1 he is. Did you see his pathetic attempt to cut out a simple cross against Burnley which ended up in the net, when we were fortunate for it to be given offside.
Our defence has been unfairly criticised at times lately; the truth is they are lacking the confidence of having a decent goalkeeper behind them
Knowing Wenger, all we can do is keep our fingers and toes crossed and accept whatever happens at the end of January!! I do hope Huntelaar or Balotelli land in the Emirates..Prefer Balotelli as he is a near perfect striker..Probably the best after Henry or maybe better than Henry..
Is this Barotelli THAT good then?
Anonymous @ 13:22..too true about the goalkeeper..Almunia was an adequate keeper..always thought of him as the person to fill the void for short term..We have had two brilliant keepers in the past decade and we just need another one now..
Balotelli is THRICE the striker Drogba is..and he is 18 or 19!!
Balotelli would cost £10-15Mill
id sign Hulk. He's a little inconsistent but playing with world beaters will breath consistency in him. strong fast can pass and dribble but he's left footed
Agree re Almunia: he's been solid (but no more) for two seasons but has been consistently terrible this season. Lloris or Afkineev would be great. Plus a good third choice centre back (Gary Cahill would be my choice). Those should be our priorities.
Can't agree re Hulk, too speculative a signing. Balotelli looks very good but being young may need too much time to contribute sufficiently this season. A real, experienced pro is what would be needed, if we sign a striker at all. Neither is my favourite but van Nistelrooy and Luca Toni fit that bill.
He's not taken his chance since RvP got injured but I still think Eduardo is going to come good again. His confidence has clearly been shot but the guy has real quality. And remember, we only play with one striker these days, so having a roster of six would be OTT.
First of all i wish you a Happy Christmas Wrighty excellent blog keep it up ....
Huntelaar would be a very interesting buy,if anyone could turn his career around it is Wenger,much like he did with alot of other players...and Wrighty this transfer could actually happen...
Best Regards Tom
@11:06
"isnt he cup tied? Would prefer Dzeko over him any day!!"
Dzeko is also cup tied!
Wenger wont sign no one
cuntchops
Bedtner (and Eduardo) should be given a chance to fill the void. They will.
no no no wrighty.. no way!! i hope u remember the speculations last summer bout the "Hunter" joining us and there was enormous pressure on Le Boss to sign him.. but the wily old fox let him go and what a decision it turned out to be.. come to think of it.. Milan signed him amidst a striker crisis.. so there is no way he is on the bench at Milan cos he is below the pecking order or something.. What we see Wenger doesnt.. and wenger is always right.. In Arsene we trust! Adriano on loan? brilliant!! but Huntelaar for 12 mil no way..
26may1989
i Cannot argee more i say that we need a good keeper just as much as a striker and lloris is the prefect match but if we get him it has to be in januray because after the world cup his price will shoot up also wenger needs to spend big David Villa? hes not cup tied ( only eupoa ) but we can sign him up also a world class striker and would keep cesc and everyone else happy and when RVP is back that would / could be the best stike partiership in the world!!!
Am I the only one that thinks that Carlton Cole would be a good move?
6"3', good pace, good hold up player, links well with midfield, Premiership experience, recent good form and is still improving?
Not sure if he is still injured though... or how much he might cost... or if WH would even sell...
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