So as we all know, it’s the same old story at Arsenal Football Club. Arguably, our two best players: Alex Song and Robin van Persie, are on their way outonce more. So what is Wenger going to do about it? Here are my opinions on yet another transfer window predicament for The Gunners.
Firstly, what do they need?
People say that all they need is a midfielder and they’re fine. That’s just naive. We’ve seen it all before, Nasri’s gone, Fabregas’ gone, Henry’s gone and they’re always left toothless, be that either in defence or attack. It’s frustrating because their aim, their goal, should be to win the Barclays Premier League. Arsenal need to win the Barclays Premier League. Now, remember 2007/2008? They had Fabregas, Adebayor, Gilberto Silva, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy, William Gallas. And yet, they were still missing something: A world-class goalkeeper. All Arsenal had back then was unreliable Manuel Almunia and inexperienced Lukasz Fabianski, which was never going to be good enough for a title-winning side. That said, Arsenal were on top at Christmas. However, yet another disappointing end-of-season run brought The Gunners down to third place that year.
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What I’m trying to say is that a “good” squad has never been enough, will never be enough. Especially not now with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur playing so well. That’s why they need something more. They need a truly special set of players, obviously they’re not going to have as much strength in depth as Manchester City, that’s impossible. What Arsenal need to do is focus on their Starting XI, and get that to Manchester City/United’s level. For me, Cazorla is an example of that. He is the perfect signing from Arsenal’s point of view: he’s quick, exciting and one of the best playmakers around. But are Podolski and Giroud of the same quality?
Olivier Giroud was relatively unknown outside France until last season, where he bagged 21 Ligue 1 goals in 38 appearances, a very impressive tally. The 25 year-old, standing at 6’4″, is your typical target man. Like fellow Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, who was also prolific in France, but has endured a torrid time at The Emirates. Lukas Podolski, however, is much more well-known. A household name in Germany since 2004, the 27 year-old attacker is also the youngest player ever to get 100 caps for the German National Team. But it’s Giroud that is on my mind, is he good enough? Only time will tell, but I think it’s fair to say that unless he’s ten times the player we thought that he’s not going to replace Robin van Persie, which brings me onto my first transfer topic.
Dutch striker Robin van Persie enjoyed the season of his life last term, finding the net 37 times in all competitions as he scooped the PFA Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards. As you can tell, Giroud is stepping into some massive boots. Confirmed as Van Persie’s replacement by Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi, the powerful striker missed a sitter against Sunderland in The Gunners’ first match of the 2012/13 Premier League campaign after being put through by the lively Santi Cazorla, who picked up the Man of the Match Award following a scintillating performance from the little Spaniard. So there is one massive positive for Arsene Wenger’s side: Cazorla truly looked the part as their Sunderland encounter fizzled out to a 0-0 draw. But what Arsenal supporters have to ask themselves is, “Is Giroud as good a player as Robin van Persie was” and the answer has to be a resounding no. Where Giroud was dangerous, Van Persie was magical. Where Giroud would pass, Van Persie would run. And that is why Arsenal need a striker in order to challenge for the Premier League title.
When I say a striker, I don’t mean any old Park Chu-Young type striker, who made a single Premier League appearance last term.
I mean a poacher, someone who will always be on the end of Cazorla’s passes and who will tuck the ball away clinically time and time again. There are very few forwards talentes enough to grace The Emirates, and, don’t get me wrong, Giroud is a great forward, just not on his own. Arsenal need to find strength-in-depth up front now that RVP has departed to Manchester United, and they quite simply don’t have that. Don’t tell me that Marouane Chamakh is as talented a striker as Emmanuel Adebayor, and don’t tell me that Olivier Giroud can be as prolific as Robin van Persie. What Arsenal need is not a replacement for Robin van Persie, rather another attacking option. Someone like Javier Hernandez or Seydou Doumbia would be perfect, a striker capable of engaging in quick passing moves and finishing them off efficiently. For me Hernandez would be the perfect signing for Arsenal, and if I’m honest, he’s the one player that I desperately want to see Arsenal bring in this summer.
His pace, flair and goalscoring ability would be perfect, and I can imagine him and Santi Cazorla forming a formidable partnership. CSKA Moscow striker Seydou Doumbia would also be a great signing though, the 24 year-old is one of the quickest footballers in the world and has been prolific for CSKA over the past few seasons.
So those are my opinions on Arsenal’s options in the final third, now onto midfield, where long-ball specialist Alex Song’s departure to Barcelona has left a big dent in Arsenal’s chances of silverware. The Cameroon international burst onto the scene in the 2008/09 season, making 48 appearances and establishing himself as the rock of Arsenal’s midfield. In the 2009/10 season, however, Song frequently left his reserved role in front of the defence and began distributing looping balls over the top to Robin van Persie, whose volleying skill proved vital for The Gunners during Song’s time at the club.
This is how Song has played ever since, he and Van Persie (particularly in the 2011/2012 season) formed one of the best attacking partnerships in the Barclays Premier League. Since Song’s departure, Arsenal have been very heavily linked with both Real Madrid playmaker Nuri Sahin and Rennes star Yann M’Vila. Sahin and M’Vila’s desire to leave, coupled with Wenger’s need for a new deep-lying midfielder, has sparked widespread transfer rumours for both Sahin and M’Vila. But what are these two midfielders all about?
Nuri Sahin is most certainly the more technical of the two players, the 23 year-old Turkish playmaker thrives on the supply he gives strikers time and time again. Sahin played in Germany for Borussia Dortmund between 2005 and 2011, but since his move to Real Madrid has made just 10 appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side. The youngest player ever to represent the Turkish national side, he is a technically gifted midfielder with an eye for a pass.Yann M’Vila, on the other hand, holds many similarities with Alex Song. The 22 year-old Rennes midfielder already has made 22 appearances for the France National Team.
He would be the ideal midfield option for Arsenal, his style of play so similar to Song’s. He acts as a deep-lying playmaker for Rennes and is instrumental in starting attacks from the base of the midfield, which is exactly what Arsenal’s attacks stem from. So in my opinion, Yann M’Vila’s style of play, along with Real Madrid’s reluctance to permanently sell Nuri Sahin means that M’Vila would be the perfect midfield buy for The Gunners.
Now, onto defence, where Arsenal notoriously fall short year after year. First of all, are Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen good enough centre-halves for Arsenal? Yes.
Secondly, are youngster Kieran Gibbs and the ever-reliable Bacary Sagna good enough wing-backs for Arsenal? Yes.
And, finally, is Johan Djourou a good enough substitute centre-half for Arsenal. Most certainly not.
What Arsenal need is a rotation option in defence to keep Koscielny and Vermaelen on their toes. Someone like PSG captain Mamadou Sakho: the hard-working youngster would be perfect for the role, or if Nicklas Bendtner were to be sold to AC Milan, Arsenal could pick up Frenchman Philippe Mexes, the 30 year-old’s experience could steady Arsenal’s defensive ship.
Ideally, Arsenal would be able to call upon someone like Michel Vorm as their second choice goalkeeper, for me Wojciech Szcz?sny needs an experienced, reliable goalkeeper to keep him on his toes and keep progressing as a goalkeeper, but Arsenal aren’t made of money.
What I do want to see, however, is at least two, if not three more signings from Arsene Wenger.
A striker of Javier Hernandez or Seydou Doumbia’s standard, a deep-lying playmaker to replace Alex Song and stem the attacks, and a centre-half to switch around the defence from time to time.
If Arsenal sign those players, they could very well challenge for English football’s top crowns, but if they don’t make signings, it could mean yet another trophyless season for Arsene Wenger’s side.
