Summer Signings Report Card: Arsenal and Chelsea

Shifting focus to the Premier League now, today's post is about Arsenal and Chelsea's transfer dealings. Both of them were rumored to spend big and names like Ribery and Aguero were thrown about. Let's see how good their dealings were:

Arsenal:

1. Thomas Vermaelen: The Arsenal squad was crying out for some experience in defense and Wenger brings in a 24 year old kid who played in the Dutch league? Many said that this was evidence that Wenger had finally gone nuts. But, as usual, there is no fooling Wenger's keen eye for talent. Vermaelen has been a sensation this season. He has fitted into the backline as if he was always there and is the leading goalscoring defender. Tall and strong, with a no-nonsense approach, this signing is typically "Arsene'.

Overall Grade: A+, everything that you want a transfer to be- cheap, effective and complete.

2. Sol Campbell: Some would say that Wenger did bring in experience in the team in the form of this signing. It was quite a coincidence that Campbell was training with Arsenal when an injury crisis struck them and he was signed on. Now, this guy is 35 and he was never known for his pace even in his best days. His is still technically good and that is the only salvaging bit about this transfer.

Overall Grade: B-, somewhat effective, but it's quite early to judge the full impact that he will have.

Chelsea:

1. Yuri Zhirkov: A costly signing at 18M pounds and primarily a left back, many felt it was a bit too much for a backup. Not only that, he was a player who deserved more than a backup role. A few injuries have limited his appearances, though Ancelotti's tactics have seen him play everywhere along the left side of the ground. Quick and an excellent crosser, his skills were never in doubt but the question remains as to the lack of opportunities for him. He's made only 11 appearances this season and as such failed to make an impact.

Overall Grade: B-, again his effectiveness is in question, but he can prove me wrong.

2. Daniel Sturridge: A controversial transfer (Chelsea must be used to those by now), this highly rated English youngster cam from the stables of Manchester City and has had a fair run in the Chelsea first team too. After a total of 15 appearances so far this season, he has scored 4 goals for his new team. He was voted the Best Young Player at City and everyone agrees that the kid is talented. We have all seen talented youngsters lose their way if they join a big club, let's hope this one isn't.

Overall grade: B, cannot rate him on effectiveness, but a youngster is always a welcome addition to the ageing Chelsea squad.

Melo, Zhirkov and yet another "next Thierry Henry"

After a slight lull in the transfer activity of the major clubs we get back here with THREE new signings which I feel are review worthy.

1.Felipe Melo to Juventus

Let us start with my second love, Juventus. Secco had proved himself worthy of the scorn of all Juve supporters with his dealings in the past (Poulsen, Nocerino...the list is long), but since Amauri last season he has steadily improved his record. It had become a well known fact in world football that Juventus required a reinvention in their midfield and some new defenders. Some in come Diego and Felipe Melo.

From yet another Brazilian football player, Melo has come a long way to establish himself as a tough tackling, no nonsense defensive midfielder and a pretty good one at that. His Confed Cup dislpays, though few, were above par. Two seasons back, I saw a few highlights of his games in an Almeria jersey and I did predict this guy has potential. Fiorentina was a good platform to show the same and a move to Juventus seems beneficial to both the player and the team.

I rate this transfer as 7.5/10 especially sweet for a ManUtd fan because if he had instead moved to Arsenal, I believe he would have been the missing piece there. But well, thanks to Wenger's stingyness everyone is happy .

2. Yuri Zhirkov to Chelsea

Chelsea have been quite silent so far in the transfer market (you can hardly consider Turnbull and Sturridge to be "big" signings), so this is their first "REAL" transfer of the season. Left sided midfielder/defender/attacker Yuri Zhirkov. How good is he? Not bad but not great, but that is my opinion from his limited displays for Russia in the Euros. Hiddink says he is great, so let us take his word on it.

But the more important issue is whether Chelsea really needed him? With Malouda coming back to form and Ashley Cole being quite a fixture in the starting XI for Chelsea, it seems highly likely that he will end up a bench warmer.

I rate this at 6.5/10 because the player could be good, even great, but what use is it if he doesn't play. Chelsea's top transfer priority should be a striker and I hope Ancelotti is more creative than Pato.

3. Gabriel "new Henry" Obertan to ManUtd

An out of the blue signing for the Red Devils and their third of the season, Gabriel Obertan would be familiar with all Football Manager managers. He is a wonderkid in the game. I watched a recent match footage of UEFA Euro u21 touranment match between England u21 and France u21 where France scored two goals of which Obertan scored one and created the other.

The lad is quick (really quick), can play on either wing, up front or in the hole, wears no 7 for the u21 side ( :D ) and has quick legs (does stepovers, flicks, tricks...you know the works). Frankly, I am excited by this signing but the downside here is the "unproven" tag. He comes from Bordeaux but spent the second half of last season on loan at Lorient making only 15 appearances (not all starting).

This would be a 6/10 signing, low simply because not much is known about him, but high because he comes cheap (tabloids claim around 3-5m pounds) and I personally think ManUtd's scouts have spotted a jewel.