Arsenal Transfer Update: There Could Be a New Center Back, but It'd Be a Shock

The January Transfer window will be closed in just a matter of days. That leaves Arsenal very little time to make what is a very necessary center back signing. Earlier this month Arsene Wenger said that the best option would be to loan a center back short term rather than buy one. This would prove to a good arrangement, as if Arsenal bought another center back they would “too many”. But why hasn’t Wenger acted on this.

At the beginning of January Arsene Wenger told the Official Arsenal website that he would only buy a center back if injured center back Thomas Vermaelen suffered a setback in his rehabilitation and was not able to come back before the end of the month. And guess what happened next. Vermaelen had a setback.

What’s more? Summer signing Sebastein Squillaci suffered a hamstring injury, leaving us with only two fit center backs. Wenger then made another statement saying he was looking for a center back to sign, but had made no progress in finding one.

Earlier this week Arsene told the Official Arsenal website that he would try to get a center back on loan to serve as cover for our two, soon to be three, fit center backs.

Now, it seems, Wenger has no intention of center backs at all, on loan or otherwise. Arsene Wenger says he would be "surprised" if Arsenal made a new signing before the transfer window closes. How would that surprise him? Isn’t that largely up to him? He said he would get someone, didn’t he?

Now Wenger says that he is confident that Arsenal will cope if they do not make a new signing before the transfer window closes.

Wenger has been seriously on the look-out for defensive reinforcements since Sebastien Squillaci joined Thomas Vermaelen on the injury list after the FA Cup tie against Leeds on January 8.

However the French defender has now overcome his hamstring problem and could return for Sunday's FA Cup tie against Huddersfield. The transfer deadline passes the day after but Wenger says he cannot foresee any activity before then.


“I would not see it as a missed opportunity,” said Wenger.

“Vermaelen looks to be making good progress, Squillaci is back available, so that was the only position we were short, at centre-backs. If I don't make any signings it is because I have not identified a special player who could strengthen our squad at the moment.”

"Transfer-wise there is no news and I would be surprised if there is any," he said.

What Could Have Been: Eight Movies That Should Be Nominated for Oscars But Probably Won't Be

The countdown to the 83rd Academy Awards is on, with the official nomination press conference set for the early hours of tomorrow morning. As is the custom, bloggers and critics have been hypothesizing for weeks now as to which movies and actors will be recognized by the Academy. Everyone seems to agree that 'The Kids Are Alright,' 'The Fighter,' 'Black Swan,' 'Toy Story 3,' 'The King's Speech' and 'The Social Network' will pick up several nominations, including Best Picture. Nods for 'True Grit,' '127 Hours' and 'Inception' are also on the table.

But what about the many standout films and performances that are likely to be overlooked by Oscar this year?

"This year, there just aren't that many studio projects aside from 'Inception' and 'Toy Story 3' -- there's no 'Avatar' like last year or 'Wall-E' from the previous year," says Lucas Carter, vice president of LA-based production company Intrigue Entertainment and a former VP at The Weinstein Company, where he worked on the Oscar campaigns for 'The Reader,' 'Vicki Cristina Barcelona' and 'A Single Man.' "The surprise could be 'Winter's Bone.' 'True Grit,' which was snubbed by the HFPA [Golden Globes], will be nominated, possibly 'Blue Valentine.'"

"The 10th slot is always up in the air," Carter continued. "[But] the big titles are 'Kings Speech,' 'Social Network,' 'Black Swan,' 'Fighter,' 'The Kids Are Alright,' 'Inception' and 'Toy Story 3.'"

A quick look at this year's Golden Globe nominations -- which have historically served as a reliable predictor for the Oscars -- would suggest there were no such movies. After all, how dreadful must the other contenders be for a critical (and box office) bomb like 'The Tourist' to pick up three nominations? But in reality there were many films and performances that are every bit as worthy of Oscar gold as this year's predicted nominees, despite the fact that they probably won't receive any nominations.

Here are eight of them.

'Harry Brown':



Michael Caine's role as a badass British vigilante who takes down a gang of local hoodlums was one of the year's best performances.

'Mother and Child':



Sure, Annette Bening's role in 'The Kids Are Alright' was great, but her performance in Rodrigo Garcia's thoughtful (though shamefully underpublicized) drama was positively spectacular.

'Casino Jack':



Who but Kevin Spacey could make corrupt lobbyist and businessman Jack Abramoff seem lovable?

'The Ghost Writer':



Both Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan delivered excellent performances in Roman Polanski's intelligent thriller. If only Kim Cattrall had left her dreadful British accent at home, 'The Ghost Writer' might be a serious contender for Best Picture.

'Conviction':



While Hilary Swank is no slouch as the female lead in this under-hyped film, it is Sam Rockwell, as a man wrongfully convicted of murder, whose performance is truly remarkable.

'Greenberg':



The only consolation in knowing that neither Ben Stiller nor Greta Gerwig are likely to be nominated for 'Greenberg' is the thought of how much Greenberg himself would abhor everything about awards season altogether.

'Catfish':



With any luck, 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' and 'Inside Job' will receive nominations for Best Documentary, and they deserve to. But this low-budget documentary -- which has all the complexity and intrigue of a scripted film -- would be a welcome, if unlikely, addition to the category.

'I Love You Phillip Morris':



Jim Carrey's depiction of real-life gay con artist Steven Russell proves the actor has come a long way since 'Ace Ventura.' But, sadly (if as always), it seems there may only be room for one nomination for a gay performance, and this year it's going to lesbians.

Elisabetta Canalis Learns on CNN She'll Never Be Mrs. Clooney

When George Clooney sat down for an interview with CNN's Piers Morgan, he made it clear to the world that he doesn't want to get married again. Too bad he forgot to mention this to longtime girlfriend, Elisabetta Canalis.

"I hate to blow your whole news story, but I was married," George told 'Piers Morgan Tonight' on Friday. "Yeah, so I've proven how good I was at it, and I just ... I'm allowed one," the 48-year-old actor-philanthropist said referring to his marriage to actress Talia Balsam from 1989 to 1993.

"Elisabetta had no idea he was going to say that," a friend of the Italian beauty tells me. "She thought she was going to be the girl who would finally get George to settle down and put a ring on it. She was totally surprised."

Even the star's dad, Nick, who was in the same interview, seemed surprised by his son's answer on plans to walk down the aisle again, telling George, "I want you to think about that. I want you to think about ... we've been married ... Nina [George's mom] and I've been married 51 years."

However, friends tell me despite what George might say in public, Elisabetta won't take no for an answer. "If he doesn't ask her to marry him soon she will ask him," an insider tells me. "And if he says no, well there are plenty more fish in the ocean."

Good look finding another fish that looks like George!