Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Rocky7 
Date:Friday May 21 2010
Time: 5:50PM
UK time is: 01:25:52
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Chamakh Becomes Arsenal's First Summer Signing
Whilst the rumour-mill has been going ape with whisperings that Cesc Fabregas wants to join, is about to join, won't be able to join because they can't afford it, Barcelona, the Gunners have been tying up their first summer transfer of 2010.
In the worst kept secret in football, Marouane Chamakh today officially became an Arsenal player.
It was rumoured that Chamakh was set to join the Gunners last summer and then in the January transfer window, but Bordeaux were unwilling to sell for a reasonable price, and with the strikers contract up in the summer, Wenger decided to hold on and get him free of charge just a few months later.
Arsène Wenger said: "We are delighted that Marouane Chamakh has joined us. He is a player we have admired for some time now and I know he will provide our squad with great quality. Chamakh has proved he is a great player with his performances for Bordeaux and Morocco in recent seasons and we`re all looking forward to him joining us.
'Chamakh is a striker of real quality and has all the attributes suited to come to England and do very well. He is also a fighter, not only a good football player, but a fighter as well. He is very good in the air and also a good team player. He is a great addition to our squad."
Check Arsenal.com for full interviews with manager and player.
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Your Comments
Another surprise Wenger signing..........
ajwb
He's a transfer ninja that bloke.
Rocky7
very excited about him coming here - if fab stays this kid well bag goals. riminds me of christiano ronaldo- lets hope he delivers!
Dan_83
I wonder if this guy will turn into another Thierry Henry. His goalscoring record isnt great (never scored more than 13 in the league, never scored more than 18 in a season) but it is better than Thierrys was before he came to Arsenal and everyone seems to rate him. At 26/27 he might be a late bloomer like drogba.
tuscan3000
Free transfer.. Wenger's shrewd.
JT_daniel
He is a different signing. He is a winner and a fighter.He has won trophies before coming here, played CL unlike the other previous signing (Kids and unproven).
Arseniger
1 down, 3 to go.
Arseniger
Worst kept secret this summer. Unlike previously when Wenger actually surprised (at least me) with Rosicky, Eduardo, Senderos and Fabianski - the last few ones (Nasri,Ramsey, Arshavin and now Chamakh) have all been well known long before they appeared on arsenal dot com .
Sajit
Surprise us Wenger!
Sajit
Ok now lets see who is next in.
True-Gooner-Blood
Lets hope he does become the Morrocan Thierry...
True-Gooner-Blood
A winner, a fighter, just what we need - still need some more leadership in the club, vermaelen was a good buy for that reason last season, lets get another gogoogogogo
bootoo
Weger's last 3 signings have been Arshavin, Vermaelen and now Chamakh, I think it's pretty clear that Wenger sees the need for experience. Now if we could get another centre back, a goal keeper and a new tea lady we'd be spot on!!
Rocky7
C'mon Arsene, a couple more and we might be able to compete!
navydave
Not to create havoc, but isnt it a bit hypocritical to question the ethics of Barcelona in tapping up Fabregas while Wenger had blatently tapped up Chamakh to finally make him reject a contract at Bordeaux and sign for Arsenal?
samuraisuraj
How is asking Bordeuax how much they want for a player tapping him up? Just because we waited until he was free before signing him because they quoted us an astronomical price that doesn't make it tapping up.
Rocky7
Chamakh's addition will give us great quality & depth in our strikeforce. He has all the qualities to be successful in the EPL with his skill on the ball, strength in the air and superb work rate. All the very best to him.
Deltaforce
Rocky, you forgot about Campbell, making it our last 4 signings that are experienced.
TPowell
Publicly declaring interest in a player cannot be called consistent with a team that takes the moral high ground.Ok Chamakh was interested in signing for Arsenal and thus rejected the contract at Bordeaux.By that logic, Fabregas(allegedly) wants to go to Barcelona and the stumbling block is Arsenal.By no means do I want to see such a player with great potential getting lost at Barcelona, still I think there is a moral inconsistency.
samuraisuraj
samuraisuraj, we offered Bordeaux 8 million pounds for Chamakh last summer when he had only 1 year left on his contract. It was a fair offer but Bordeaux demanded 15 million and the deal did not happen. Barcelona have NEVER put in an actual bid for Fabregas in the last 3 years. Yet every year we get the same media war and shenanigans. I dont think you can compare the two cases at all. Besides a club which tapped up Ashley Hole in truly shameful circumstances is hardly qualified to comment!
Deltaforce
But I never took the moral high ground, did I?Anyways I was not looking for a fight to say, merely remarking upon that glitch in the perfect moral armour of Arsenal.
samuraisuraj
Thanks for saving me the hassle of responding Delta.
Rocky7
We don't claim to be whiter than white sam, just that for a club to target us season after season without reprisal is starting to ***** us off ever so slightly.
Rocky7
Chelsea's moral armour is made of rice paper.
iceman10
samuraisuraj - unlike Barca, Arsenal dealt openly with Bordeaux. Arsenal officially and openly approached Bordeaux and offered a deal. Arsenal never used the media to try to put Bordeaux into some kind of corner. Just exactly how can you compare what Wenger said about Chamakh before he came to Arsenal to what Barca have been saying publicly for every damned season ever since Cesc came to us? Barca don't even have the guts to formally approach us with a bid, they just trash talk to the media all the time.
jaelle
Of course, Barcelona are the biggest hypocrites and crybabies u will ever see..Atleast Real Madrid have no qualms about them being called nasty.There is no denying the fact that Fabregas was developed into the player he is now by Arsenal and Barcelona just act like they are just getting back a player loaned out.In the collective interest of Premier League, best of luck in the fight to retain the services of Cesc.
samuraisuraj
Outstanding! I love new signings. I haven't heard much about this guy. So, is he a striker?
smithdj74
Chamakh has got the Number 29 shirt. One striking shirt number which will probably become free this summer is No 10 if Gallas leaves. Dont think the No 10 shirt will be given to Gallas's replacement. One of our attacking players will hopefully be given the shirt number instead - Arshavin or RvP hopefully.
Deltaforce
I wouldn't be buying any custom shirts this summer. I doubt VP would want to change though. I can see Chamakh or Gourcuff getting that 10 shirt though. See what I did there?
smithdj74
That will be mindblowing if it happens smithdj but considering that Bordeaux are still smarting about the Chamakh transfer their Chairman Triaud will rather sell his ancestral chataeux to us than sell us Gourcuff! We better get our crossing in order in the pre season to help Chamakh. He will definitely get in there and compete with the best defenders in the EPL in the air but our crossing better get better than its current pedestrian standard.
Deltaforce
I think it is almost two years since we were first linked with this guy. I remember watching videos of him on YT to see if he was any good. He is basically an older version of Bendtner and much more ferocius in the air.
gronedrone
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/8690067.stm
BBC is reporting that Tricky Wa*kstain of Barca has confirmed that they have formally contacted us regarding Cesc's transfer.
Deltaforce
I think Bendtner made some of the best crosses on the team last year. Unfortunately he wasn't able to get on the end of his own crosses. Also, while I look forward to a lot of headed goals I don't believe Wenger would sign a striker just because he can use his head. There has to be more to his game than that.
smithdj74
Chamakh definitely has a lot more going for him going than just aerial prowess. He can play one touch football quite well and used to be Gourcuff's partner in crime in that respect. He is faster than either of Bendtner or RvP and has a Kuyt like work rate as well.
Deltaforce
Utd fan here,congrats on your first signing.Hopefully u guys will do well.Wenger has stuck to his principles and that is one thing I surely admire,if ofcourse we don't win the PL,then surely I would want u guys to win it.U guys and especially the manager deserves something after doing so well with such little budget.
Antriksh (abmtd)
Thanks for your kind words Antriksh. All the best for next season.
Deltaforce
Thanks Delta.It means a lot.
Antriksh (abmtd)
Glad we have the Chamakh business in the bag; now, we need to hasten the next couple of signings before the WC proper. It won't matter if Barca has contacted us for Cesc; if the price isn't right, we'll keep our Captain and work out how to keep him happy.
Naijagunner
When I compared him Bendtner, it was a positive statement. Bendtner is technically very gifted and a flair player too. How many times have you seen Bendtner do a little back-heel or attempt bicycle-kicks. That may be due to his big ego but he certainly isn't just a big Heskeyesque target man.
gronedrone
Every reason to think that the impact this guy will have, will trump by far those big money signings our rivals have indulged in - see Berbatov, Santa Cruz, Adebeyor, Robinho, Palyunchenko, Keane and others.
Full credit to Wenger and the board for not succumbing to ludicrous player buying at the height of a transfer market boom.
hughied
Poor man's Christina Ronaldo.. I never said that, don't jump on my back. It was Alan Hansen, if I remember right. lol!
JT_daniel
Welcome to The Arsenal Marouane. We hope that your stay with us is a long and fruitful one. If you pass the ball and don't run with it, and only shoot as an absolute last resort, you'll be fine !
Cockney Rich
erm, we act surprised ? good signing, but this deal was done in January on a free coz his contract was up and was free to talk to any club.
geekygooner
geeky, that's why the article referred to it as "the worst kept secret in football". We knew it would happen but couldn't talk about it till it was done.
Naijagunner
Wenger does pick up some good players. pity Fab wants out.
SFC Forever
A signing that obviously excited Fabregas too.
Wyn Mills
It was Tony Cascarino who said he was a poor mans ronaldo, although i would never listen to anything he has to say. I dont see how you can even compare the two appart from looks. Completely different players
paul_ownz
Wenger's model of signing french players who are in thrall of what he has done at Arsenal is simply unsustainable. If he is really thinking about long term success then he needs to bring through some of the British players coming through the academy...players who are loyal to Arsenal and are not going to up sticks when he leaves. Chamakh can only be a stop gap in my opinion. And to be honest he's not the most important position Wenger needs to deal with.
Wyn Mills
But he was free, so i dont count him as a signing
paul_ownz
Wyn Mills, which British striker would improve our team? Bent, Defoe, Crouch, Cole? Obviously the British players in our academy will be brought through gradually and that is why our long term future is more secure than most. In the interim everyone agrees that experience is required. Cant see how negative conotations can be derived from Chamakh's signing.
Deltaforce
Ah that chap's got cotton for brains, that Tony guy. I wouldn't read too much into his words.
JT_daniel
Paul, I don't suppose Cesc, Campbell (twice), Song (750k), Clichy (500k), Anelka (500k) or RVP (1m) counted either.
You're right. I'd much prefer Wenger spent 18m on a teenager (Anderson), or 34 m on a 29 year old (Berbatov). Or 25m on a lazy mercenary (Adebeyor) or 35m on a spoilt Brazillian wonderkid. Spending money's clearly the way to go.
hughied
It was a throw away comment. I was thinking more in terms of Wenger saying we will look to buy 2-3 players, by not counting Chamakh we still have at least 2 players to bring in. I think he is a decent addition but im hoping Wenger had not counted him when saying we need 2 or 3 to strengthen, having basically accepted he was coming in. I have not written this well at all but you get the jist
paul_ownz
The thing I like best about Chamakh is his attitude and work rate. I hope that doesn't change. We desperately need those qualities in this team. Much as I love Gourcuff, I don't think he'd be good for Arsenal. His partnership with Chamakh @ Bordeaux was great but he's a bit slow in his decision-making.
jaelle
DF, well the obvious one is Rooney....but it ain't gonna happen! We have players like Jay Simpson , Bazarite, Lansbury Sanchez Watt, Wiltshire etc. All of them with as much potential as Shrek. When are these guys going to get a chance? Are they really being brought through or are many of them being paraded on the market before being sold off after loan periods?
But as I said scoring goals wasn't our main problem last season, it was letting them in.
Wyn Mills
Yeah, we need more young British players who will be loyal to Arsenal, like that Ashley Cole guy...
krismon1
Wyn Mills, not all of our reserve players are going to make it sadly. Jay Simpson is talented but we have Afobe and Wellington who are even more talented. Cant see a way for Simpson unfortunately. Its going to be heavy competition among Barazite, Wilshere, Lansbury and Watt for midfield/ support striker berths and perhaps only 2 out of these 4 may survive at the club. While we may lose some of the reserve players, I'm reasonably sure that we will hang on to to some of the best ones.
Deltaforce
I think Watt is the least likely of the 4 from what i have seen of them all
paul_ownz
Not to forget the other strong midfield/ right back contenders of the future in JET, Frimpong, Aneke and Coquelin.
Deltaforce
Chamak.......who??!! 5 years without anything.........now plz get ready for the 6th one lol ...
the_blue_world
Lets you dont get joey on a free too..
Chelsea24/7
A winner ???? never heard of him .
adrogbafan
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