Keisuke Honda

[Jbruin]

He was terrific in the World Cup, good passing, dribbling and set pieces, Wenger'll make a good winger out of him, he actually rated Honda as the best player of that World Cup so it wouldn't be surprising to me if we were in for him.

 

[The Escaped Ape]

Story from Sankei Sports in Japan this morning.

http://www.sanspo.com/soccer/news/110820/scb1108200505001-n1.htm

For the non-Japanese speakers, essentially it quotes someone related to CSKA saying that it was "a fact that there had been an official offer from Arsenal". It says the offer was for €13m and that a Russian sports website (Life Sports) was reporting the same thing, with the same price quoted.

It fails to say when the offer was made, nor does it give any further evidence. It goes on to comment on Arsenal's need for an AM after Fabregas's departure and Wenger's comments at the World Cup expressing admiration for Honda.

A bit slim to bump a thread on and the Japanese media usually take any rumour and run with it (they aren't particularly well connected to double check veracity and tend to get over-excited about any links to big teams for Japanese players).

But, for what it's worth and because it's slim pickings at the moment on interesting news. :|

 

[Anzac]

Quality player but perhaps not the 'Super' quality we were expecting.

 

[The Escaped Ape]

You're right, but my expectations of what Wenger means by "super" have fallen anyway...

 

[Anzac]

IMO Arteta is a better fit because he's PL experienced & an experienced head & more able to produce/lead NOW.

Having said that Honda IS a class act & will be every bit as good as any of the likes of Martin etc could be, or Arteta is now. Further to that I get the feeling that the Asian players in general are more 'honest' regarding their work ethic & team play. They have the same level of technical skills but lack the individuality & flair.

 

[The Escaped Ape]

Honda's a bit of an exception to that rule actually. From the way he acts and behaves, he's the closest the Japanese national team have to a CRonaldo figure. Very aware of his image, outspoken in his belief that you have to be selfish to score goals and shamelessly angling for a move away from CSKA during the January transfer window (according to some reports, admittedly without very verifiable quotes). Nonetheless, he is far closer to that Japanese work ethic archetype than that comparison might suggest, as you can't quite take his Japanese upbringing away. He's a lot more understated than my CRonaldo comparison would suggest, just much more outspoken/self-focussed than the rest of the Japanese squad.

I don't know a huge amount about him as a footballer (dead ball specialist, reasonably robust by Japanese standards so won't get knocked around as much as others in the PL), but he'd be huge for marketing reasons in Japan. He's still one of the national squad's key players and very popular here.

 

[Anzac]

Wiki has him as a deep playmaker, but can play as an AM, second striker,
and was even described as playing as a 'false 9' at the WC.
From what I recall from the WC & Asian Cup he's very involved in much of what Japan did going forward.

Sounds much like a Trequartista type role that Cesc was playing as opposed to an outright AMC.

 

[patrick42uk]

Unless Arshavin goes, im not expecting anything on the Hazard, Honda etc front.

Same here. I just cant see a forward coming in given we have signed campbell and chamberlain, and brought Ryo back.

 

[Anzac]

Unless Arshavin goes, im not expecting anything on the Hazard, Honda etc front.

Same here. I just cant see a forward coming in given we have signed campbell and chamberlain, and brought Ryo back.

I don't see the likes of Honda or Arteta as attacking forwards, more like playmakers with licence to roam from deep or advanced.

 

[Arsenal_Soldier]

very good player, affordable, what we need, experienced..

so no then.

 

[HollandGooner]

Reports in holland are claiming that we have indeed make a 13 million pond bid

 

[arsenallegends]

Do you guys think Keisuke could play that #10 role? He's got a great touch, dribbling and shooting skills but I'm not sure how a passing role would suit.

In retrospect maybe we should have gone for Keisuke instead of Arshavin. Anyway he would be a really solid addition to the team, so heres hoping the make it official and he's in the team against United.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

well we can do better there are alot of players better then honda, but any signing espically in midfied i wll be happy cuz our midfielder at this moment is depressing we need at least 2 players in midfield.

 

[Hoya]

He will help, he offers something our recent squad lists have lacked, and has attacking quality. I hope we get him. Even one quality (if not super) signing will go some ways to restoring my faith. Not much, but some.

 

[caek]

Honda is a quality player. Would be a good fit here. Regarding the argument between Kagawa and Honda, I think Honda is the better player right now but Kagawa has better potential.

Either way, If you watched the Asian Cup earlier this year, Honda completely ripped it to shreds. Was fantastic.

Not 100% on this but I'm pretty sure Blackburn had a bid rejected in the region of £10 mil (?) last month?

 

[Spork]

Were we linked with Honda last year? Just curious, I seem to remember that we were but yea I don't really know.

 

[The Escaped Ape]

I think there was some gossip last summer, but it was essentially based on Wenger's positive comments about Honda at the World Cup if I recall correctly. To an extent, I suspect it's driven by his agent.

 

[truth_hurts]

Wilshere is better than Honda, Rosicky is an acceptable squad player. Would rather we brought another type of player to the play-maker type unless it is a dynamic one who can assist heavily.

 

[Thommybhoy]

I want him here. Seems like a winner from what I have seen. Has character that we desperatelly need. And I guess we'd sell plenty shirts in Japan.

 

[progman07]

You can tell which rumours are rubbish. This is one of them. There are only 1-2 legitimate rumours out there, really (Mata was, Cahill is probably not one of them though).