Analysing Arsenal's squad and where they need to strengthen this transfer window

Does Arsene Wenger have any more signings up his sleeve?With back-to-back FA Cup wins and a superb second half of the season in the Premier League, Arsenal, after a fairly long time, look like genuine title contenders. With the Premier League season around the corner, the focus will once again be on what Arsene Wenger does in the transfer window. Contrary to popular opinion, Arsenal have been spending quite generously in the last couple of years. With the self-imposed financial austerity coming to an end and new sponsorship deals adding more cash to the coffers, the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez have moved to the Emirates in the past two seasons. These signings are illustrative of the fact that Arsenal are now looking at signing established stars or players instead of looking for an odd bargain here and there. The signing of Petr Cech - from Chelsea - is a case in point. Wenger saw an ideal opportunity to bolster the belief of the squad that they were going after the Premier League title all guns blazing. Wenger’s assertion that he is open to doing more transfer business, but only if the opportunity arises, may sound frustrating to fans but makes sense. One look at the Arsenal squad and you cannot help but feel that they have most areas covered. We look at every area of the team and speculate as to where they need to strengthen and where they have the wherewithal to go toe-to-toe with other big teams in England and Europe.

#1 Goalkeeper

Arsenal signed Petr Cech from Chelsea this summer

Current situation

With the signing of Petr Cech, Arsenal have, for the first time in many years, a genuine world class keeper. Since the departure of Jens Lehmann, it would not be wrong to say that Arsenal have not had a commanding presence between the sticks.

With the likes of Almunia, Fabianski, Mannone unable to handle the pressure of playing for a big club like Arsenal, the goalkeeping situation has been a constant worry for Arsenal ever since they moved to the Emirates. Wojciech Szczsny has done a decent job over the past couple of seasons but his antics after the Southampton game last season meant that he was relegated to the bench.

The arrival of Cech is also a clear sign that Wenger wants to use him as a first-choice keeper in 2015/16. Having spent more than 10 years in the Premier League – and collected a bucket load of trophies with Chelsea – the Czech shot-stopper will need no time in getting used to the pace and physicality of the league. Also, he would be eager to prove himself again after being relegated to the bench by Thibaut Courtois in 2013/14.

Choices at the club

Wojciech Szczsny, despite his antics, still seems to retain Wenger’s faith even after feverish speculation that Arsenal were prepared to let him go. Wenger chose him for goalkeeping duties in the FA Cup final and the Pole himself has talked of staying at the club and fighting for a place.

Cech’s signing means that despite having a superb Copa America with Colombia and a very good stint as Arsenal’s first choice goalkeeper in the second half of the season, David Ospina’s future at the North London club looks bleak. After such stellar performances in the Copa America, one has to assume that he will seek regular football elsewhere. A move to Turkey looks most likely.

Potential Signings?

The goalkeeping stocks seem plentiful for the Gunners even accounting for Ospina’s departure. With the young Emi Martinez as third-choice, expect no more signings in this department.

#2 Defence

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny’s successful partnership looks set to continue

Current Situation

At centre back, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny will resume their partnership that has served the Gunners well for the last three seasons. With the BFG now retired from international duty and Koscielny overcoming the injury problems that dogged him for the first half of last season, Arsenal have a strong spine to build on. An added advantage this season is that both the defenders will be coming back after having a good rest - which was not the case last season due to the FIFA World Cup.

In the full back positions, Spaniards Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin will expect to be back in the first team after a superb second half of the season in 2014/15. Both were second choice (in Bellerin’s case, third-choice) at the start of last season, but have shown the importance of being ready to grab the opportunities whenever they arise.

Choices at the club

Again, Arsenal seem reasonably well-stocked as far as defensive reserves are concerned. Brazilian Gabriel - signed from Villareal in January - is the third choice centre back and has given a good account of himself whenever he has played. Having spent six months acclimatising to the rigours of English football, he could feature more this season, especially if Wenger tries to play a pressing game deploying a high defensive line. Gabriel’s pace offers him a chance to do so.

Calum Chambers’ versatility means he can be deployed as a centre back in case of an emergency. Moreover, his best performances for the club have come at centre back than at right back where his lack of pace was exposed last season. Chambers is seen, by many seasoned Arsenal observers, as a replacement of sorts for Mertesacker and Wenger might be tempted to look at this option in the League Cup.

Kieran Gibbs is now the second-choice left back having been usurped by Monreal in the second half of last season and will be eager to earn back his spot. The same goes for Mathieu Debuchy at right back after injuries wrecked havoc with his first season at Arsenal. The Frenchman’s experience means that he will still be very valuable to the team, especially as Bellerin’s youth means he will have the odd bad game or two. In addition, Debuchy and Monreal can also fulfil duties at centre back in case of an emergency.

Potential signings?

There is a feeling among Arsenal fans that they need a world-class centre back to reach the next level. But Wenger, who prioritises cohesion and internal solutions over new additions, may not want to disturb the stability built over the last couple of season. A signing like David Alaba would probably be right but the odds of Wenger splashing the cash are very low.

Will Wenger try and sign David Alaba?

#3 Midfield

Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil will continue to pull the strings of Arsenal’s midfield

Current situation

The surprise emergence of Francis Coquelin at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield means Arsenal’s pressing need for the Patrick Viera-Gilberto style midfielder is not as pronounced as it was last season. The Frenchman was in many ways the revelation of last season providing thrust at the base of Arsenal midfield - pressing, covering, intercepting, tackling and allowing bigger talents to do the creative work.

Developing a wonderful partnership alongside the two-footed wizard Santi Cazorla, Coquelin was crucial to Arsenal finding the right balance in the second half of 2014/15. With Cazorla reinventing himself at the centre of midfield and starting the pre-season in the same form (see his performance against Everton in the Barclays Asia trophy) it must be said that Cazorla and Coquelin remain first choice in Arsenal’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

But the midfield is where Arsene Wenger has a wide range of choices and question marks. With Ozil clearly best suited to a Number 10 role, Arsene was forced to push Aaron Ramsey to the right side of attack last season. While the Welshman did well, he expressed his desire to play at the centre of midfield where he performed superbly in 2013/14.

Choices at the club

On the face of it, Arsenal are spoilt for choice in midfield. Wenger tried to accommodate both Ramsey and Wilshere at the start of last season in a 4-1-4-1 which meant that Ozil was forced to the left and Cazorla was on the bench. Though things did not work out as planned, it could be inferred that Wenger wants to transfer the keys of midfield from Cazorla to Ramsey. With the Spaniard expected to leave for Spain next season, this season might see a gradual transition.

But given Cazorla’s imperious form, it is still difficult to not see him as a key member of the side. His two-footedness is a rare quality which he uses to maximum effect. In addition, the likes of Ozil and Sanchez love to play alongside him. Wenger himself has given him the captain’s armband on a couple of occasions and it would be fascinating to see how this transition takes place, if it does.

Francis Coquelin’s rise at Arsenal has seen Wenger hold back on signing a new defensive midfielder

There are some doubts about Coquelin’s passing abilities which were exposed in games against bottom-half teams. His inability to build from the back, unlike Mikel Arteta, means that the veteran Spaniard may still have a role at the base of midfield.

As we saw in the North London derby, the combination of Coquelin and Ramsey did not work as both of them are very direct players. Arteta still remains a potent weapon in building from the back and his seniority is an asset to the club. Mathieu Flamini might find himself out of the squad for most of the season.

Add to this mix, Tomas Rosicky and Arsenal’s midfield stocks are overflowing.

Potential signings?

For Arsenal to make that transition from being good to great, many feel that they need a world-class defensive midfielder. But given the transfer dealings of this window, it seems Wenger is satisfied with what is available. He has let Schneiderlin go to Manchester United having tracked him for a long time. Arturo Vidal, another player heavily linked to Arsenal, is probably going to Bayern Munich. There are few top-class defensive midfielders available in the market.

A player like Geoffery Kondogbia could have provided the much-needed steel but as we have seen with Yaan M’Villa and Etienne Capoue, Wenger’s judgement is generally spot-on. Internal solutions may well be the answer to Arsenal’s midfield issues.

#4 Forwards

Danny Welbeck (L) didn’t have the perfect 2014/15 season but Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud (R) were among the goals

Current situation

Again, in terms of numbers, Arsenal are well stocked. Olivier Giroud, despite criticism, brings certain underrated qualities to the Arsenal forward line. He may not be the world-class goalscorer everyone craves but he does a very good job.

Alexis Sanchez looks like a permanent fixture on the left in Arsenal’s front three having had such a superb 2014/15. The way he and Theo Walcott combined in the FA Cup final also showed how Sanchez can play as a false #9. Walcott, whose contract situation continues to be a point of concern, has the pace to trouble any defence and could be given a run-out in the number-nine position.

Choices at the club

On the right side, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlian would be looking to make his mark after injury curtailed what looked like a breakthrough season. Wenger has frequently talked up his potential and his pace and ability to hug the touchline would provide Arsenal with the much-needed depth. Danny Welbeck had a stop-start season and would be looking to improve his output in 2015/16. Chuba Akpom could go out on loan again.

Potential signings

If there is one area where Arsenal need to strengthen, it’s the forward line. The lack of a bonafide world class player (barring Alexis Sanchez) is there for all to see. Arsenal have the quantity, but a potential upgrade in quality would surely not go amiss.

Last season, Wenger talked of finding a player who could score 10-15 more goals. In effect, he was talking about Ramsey but it could also be considered a nod to finding more goal-scoring ways. Oxlade-Chamberlian could potentially offer that but given the way transfers have taken place in the last two seasons, a player could come up in the market and Wenger may splash the cash.

Will Karim Benzema still be a Real Madrid player when the transfer window closes?

Karim Benzema has been linked and given the shenanigans taking place at the Bernabeu, he might still become an Arsenal player come the end of August. Another player who has been linked is Alexander Lacazette who was in prolific form last season for Lyon.

Given Wenger’s history of nurturing young French players, it is a signing which makes sense. But for these to happen, we might have to wait till the end of transfer window. Mario Gotze has long been on Arsene’s radar and should he become available, Arsenal should make a move for the super-talented German.

All said and done, an exciting season beckons for the Gunners faithful.