Rafa Gets Maxi

Rafa Benitez has secured the signature of Maxi Rodriguez on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.  The 29-year-old player signed a three-and-a-half year deal after Atletico who are languishing in 11th place in La Liga deemed Rodriguez surplus to requirements and with his contract set to expire in the summer, and with no offers on the table the club seem to have felt that the players prospects for first team football in Madrid so bleak that it was better for them to get him off the wage bill.

This is another gamble from Rafa, but this one at least has not involved a sizable transfer fee.  Rodriguez, if he settles quickly and can adapt to the fast pace and tough tackling of the Premier League could prove a useful utility forward, who can play on either wing or provide cover for, or, alongside Torres.  Either way, he give Benitez some options.

Time will tell if Rodriguez proves a good signing, but I have my doubts that this signing will be the one that will bring Liverpool a top four finish and win back the increasingly deflated fans... If he bags a last minute winner in his first couple of games there could be some hype, but in my mind Rafa has brought in a squad player to fill in for the departure of another after Veronin's move to Moscow.

Sol Campbell To Rejoin Arsenal

The news comes as a bit of a surprise but shouldn't really, but Sol Campbell looks to be close to agreeing a short-term deal with Arsenal.  Arsenal have obtained a special registration which will allow Campbell to take part in a reserve team match against West Ham reserves tonight.

Campbell has been training with Arsenal in Hertfordshire since soon after leaving Notts County and will act as cover for Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas until the end of the season.  This strikes me as a good signing as Campbell is a first class defender, and was key to Wengers 2003/04 Invincibles Team will provide confidence in the event of absence or need for rest to Wengers key centre-halves which will lend Wengers title chances more credibility.  He is also available for registration in the Champions League which again is an added bonus.  For Arsenals blossoming young players he is a hero of recent memory and will likely act as positive motivation and as another source of leadership.  His experience will benefit the team greatly.

There is also the potential benefit that if Campbell somehow finds himself in an extended run of games before the summer there is another solid defensive option available to Fabio Capello who will surely take a good look at Campbell now given his experience of two prior World Cups.

Wenger would be hard pressed to have found a better signing if he had of opened up the cheque book and spent big. 

This certainly spells the end of Philippe Senderos' Arsenal career, and he will be regretting not joining Everton in the summer.