Archives for January 5th, 2013

It’s 27th October 2004. A young defender with Djourou on the back of his shirt comes on to the Highbury pitch. Questions are asked: Who? How do I pronounce that? Nationality? Where’s he from? The Swiss player puts in a solid defensive performance.

On 14th January 2006, over a year since his League Cup appearance, Djourou starts his first league game against Middlesbrough alongside also-Swiss centre-back Phillipe Senderos. Arsenal won the match 7-0, an impressive League debut for Johan Djourou. He played a part in a further 6 Premier League games that season. Juventus scouted Johan with his contract expiring that summer, but following the conclusion of the World Cup, Djourou signed a six-year contract extension at Arsenal.

On 10th August, Arsenal loaned Johan to Birmingham City for five months as well as Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner. Two days after he played his first game, losing 3-2 to Chelsea but kept his side in the game by clearing Lampard’s shot off the line. Djourou continued to play regularly and McLeish was keen to keep him, but Wenger chose to keep him at Arsenal as Kolo Toure and Alex Song were heading to the African Cup of Nations.

Moving on to season 08/09, Djourou said he’d be willing to play in midfield following Flamini’s departure for AC Milan. Senderos was also loaned to AC Milan therefore Djourou became first choice back up centre-back.

The following season, Djourou was set to become first choice defender as Kolo Toure transferred to Manchester City, but a knee injury saw Johan sidelined for 6-8 months. He made his comeback against, Fulham, the final match of the season, replacing Mikaël Silvestre. This was Djourou’s only involvement that season.

An injury to Thomas Vermaelan at the start of his Arsenal career gave Johan Djourou a starting place, which he retained for the entire season. He played in all of Arsenal’s 8 January games conceding a total of 0 goals! He scored his first Arsenal goal against Newcastle in the thrilling 4-4 draw, a day to forget for Arsenal fans. Likewise, Djourou partnered Laurent Koscielny in the League Cup final where a blunder from his centre-back partner cost his team the trophy, and Birmingham went on to win the match.

On 12th March, an FA Cup quarter-final vs Manchester United, Djourou sustained an injury that ruled him out for a match, disappointing for Arsenal who hadn’t lost a league game with him on the pitch. He finished the season having played 37 games.

2011/12 saw Djourou become 4th choice defender behind Vermaelan, Koscielny and Mertesacker. Despite this, Johan did play 19 times, although many of those appearances were at right-back as Sagna and Jenkinson were both injured for 2 months, a position unfamiliar to him.

This season, he hasn’t played a single game for Arsenal. Wenger decided to loan Djourou, Hannover were his favoured side and joined them on 5th January 2013.

Loaned

You have to feel for Johan Djourou, been at this club since a teenager (2002), and his most successful season saw Arsenal reach the final, who never lost a league game with him playing. However injury prevented his progress and his game time, which eventually cost his place in the team.

Although leaving on loan, I do believe Djourou could yet have a future at Arsenal. If he can put a run of successful performances at Hannover, first-team for Arsenal next season is possible. Many Arsenal fans aren’t Djourou’s biggest supporters but I am a fan.

Good luck to Johan Djourou on loan at Hannover 96.

Written by Cain O’Bennett

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With his contract set to expire in June Fernando Llorente is now able to begin negotiations to sign a pre-contract with the club of his choosing. Whilst his list of suitors is extensive it has emerged over the last 48 hours that Italian side Juventus have stolen a march on their rivals by opening negotiations to sign El Rey Leon.

In truth it will be an incredibly sad end to his career with Los Leones after his well publicised fall out with Bilbao head coach Marcelo Bielsa. It seems almost remarkable to think that only 10 months ago Llorente was instrumental in the Basque side’s triumph over Manchester United which brought the club admirers from all four corners of the globe.

However, wherever Bielsa tends to go trouble and discontent is never too far away. Having run his young and exciting squad into the ground physically last season when they were simply fantastic the same level of performance has not been achieved this time round. Unfortunately thrown in with this there have been personal altercations with senior members of the squad and morale is at an all time low. The fact that Llorente has not been starting is testament to the irreversible damage that has been caused.

Whether the move to Juventus is agreed it is certain that he will depart the Bilbao club having spent 16 years progressing through the ranks. The young Llorente joined the club as an 11 year old boy and has developed into one of the most respected strikers in Europe who has caught the attention of almost every major club on the continent.

There have been rumours since August of a possible move to the Premier League but Juventus represents an incredibly attractive proposition. The reigning Italian champions have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League and look on course to retain their domestic crown. One thing that they have been lacking however is a top class striker who could take them to the next level.

Most first time observers of Llorente are surprised by his technical proficiency. Standing at 6’5” he is unexpectedly mobile but is clearly also very effective when used as a target man. However, it is his finishing and eye for goal which has made him stand out in recent seasons. The fact that he would be available on a free transfer as of June is simply too good for any club to turn down.

What happened in Bilbao last season showed glimpses of turning into something really special. The internal issues involving Bielsa and the departure of Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich have been instrumental in their poor season thus far and losing Llorente will come as a sickening blow for their wonderful fans. However, it is such a waste seeing him sat on the bench almost every week and at 27 years old he should be approaching the best couple of years of his career.

As long as he remains hungry for success and keen to replicate the form he demonstrated last season he will be improve any side he plays in.

Written by Andy Hunter

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