Arsenal: Five players Wenger could buy this summer

Now that Arsenal have sealed qualification to the Champions League proper, as manager Arsene Wenger says, their transfer season has finally begun. Here are five players he would think his team would benefit from as they attempt to mount a title challenge.

Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain and France)

Blaise Matuidi of PSG

With France’s capital club looking to make some space in midfield for alleged new faces, Matuidi could be one of the players to leave Paris as he looks to cement a place in France’s World Cup squad next summer.

The Parisians have a midfield packed with talent and if someone else with pedigree comes in, Matuidi could be the man to shift from the starting eleven, because players such as Javier Pastore and Marco Verratti are vital for the Parisians to deliver results.

He is sure to get first team football at Arsenal and will slot in easily at the Emirates Stadium. His physicality and pace are sure to add to Arsenal’s rather threadbare options in defensive midfield and the Gunners’ rearguard would certainly be very happy to see someone with his work rate and intelligence in front of them.

But would PSG let him go? He made 52 appearances for the club last season and if nobody comes in, he would be cycled with Clement Chantome, Thiago Motta and Mohamed Sissoko in that role.

Rene Adler (Hamburger SV and Germany)

Rene Adler of Hamburg SV

Undisputed first choice at the only Bundesliga club to never be relegated, Adler will not be featuring in the Champions League this season as Hamburg finished seventh last season.

Although he will not feature as first-choice for Germany in the summer of 2014, his chances of getting on the plane to Brazil could be in some doubt with the presence of others such as Roman Weidenfeller, Bernd Leno and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen all jostling for a place in the 23-man squad.

Arsenal are looking for a new custodian, having been linked to Brazil’s Julio Cesar and Spanish duo Vicente Guaita and Iker Casillas, but Adler could prove to be a worthy investment if Wenger decides to spring for the German. Goalkeepers tend to have a longer shelf-life than their outfield counterparts and at 28, Adler could make the number one spot in between the sticks his for years to come.

Hamburg have not one, but two experienced keepers in their side. Czech international Jaroslav Drobny has been present at the club since 2010 and has proven to be a safe pair of hands in the past.

Micah Richards (Manchester City and England)

Micah Richards of Manchester City

Roy Hodgson has publicly said in the past that he prefers Glen Johnson to Micah Richards as England’s starting right-back but should Arsenal finish in the top four next season and mount a title challenge with the current Manchester City man in their team, he might be open to changing his mind.

Even though Richards is a scion of Manchester City’s youth programme, Pablo Zabaleta has been first choice at City for quite some time and given that Arsenal have expressed interest in Richards in the past, Wenger could be tempted into signing him at a cut-price fee.

If it is in the player’s best interests, City would also not stand in the way of Richards leaving the Etihad Stadium with his contract expiring in two years time. The 25-year-old’s added versatility would also appeal to Wenger, who has been forced to play Bacary Sagna as a centre back because of injuries and a lack of depth hampering his team in the past.

Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow and Japan)

Keisuke Honda of CSKA Moscow

The Arsenal stable has plenty of talented midfielders but Wenger himself has admitted that his team do need reinforcements to provide a deep squad. Having previously played for VVV Venlo and currently in Russia, the Premier League would definitely be a step up for Honda but the Japanese would surely relish playing at the highest level of the game.

Regularly deployed either on the wings, as a playmaker or in the hole behind the striker, Honda would fancy a move to the Emirates Stadium where he would join a very talented crop of creative players, who would surely help him add to his game.

Honda is sure to have been regaled with tales of Wenger during his childhood. The Frenchman’s work at Nagoya Grampus Eight during his stint in the Land of the Rising Sun means he will forever be remembered in Japan and Honda would surely love to work with one of the best managers of the modern game.

But once again, Arsenal will have to meet the Russian club’s demands. Honda is the fulcrum of the CSKA team and they would definitely think twice before letting the 27-year-old go.

Juan Mata (Chelsea and Spain)

Juan Mata of Chelsea

Rumour has it that Mata, Chelsea’s best player over the course of the last two seasons has been looking for a way out of Stamford Bridge despite manager Jose Mourinho saying the opposite on many occasions. Mata was close to signing for Arsenal when Valencia were looking to offload him and despite losing out to Chelsea, Wenger is sure to consider moving for the talented Spaniard.

The array of skills the diminutive Spain international possesses makes him one of the best players in the league and although it is very uncommon to see one club sell to another, Wenger would definitely be willing to splash the cash out on a player who has shown that he can excel at the highest level.

The World Cup winner would rub shoulders with players who are on the way to becoming world-class talents, or are already so, (such as his countryman Santi Cazorla) and the link-up between the two of them means they are sure to form an excellent partnership at the Emirates.

The Champions League winner’s father was allegedly in North London during the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Fenerbahce last night and a move might be on the cards for the 25-year-old.