Very surprised that Wenger came out and said we need 'defensive signings'. Maybe we will get a CB or DM afterall.
Think we'll get a stop gap CB, and wait until the Summer to get a top class DM/HM (we can manage until the end of the season with Arteta, Flamini, Coq, and Chambers plus I don't think we can get the level of DM we need this window whereas CB we just need someone who can do a job not necessarily a starter).
As we've all said a powerful DM or Box to Box would add a lot to this side.. but Im starting to think Wenger simply doesn't want one. I think another Arteta style deep lying technical midfielder is more likely than a more athletic 'destructive' player. Gundogan or Cabaye are probably more likely acquisitions than Carvalho/Kodogbia/Bender types.
I don't think Arsenal need to sign anyone. All the defenders are now fit and Ozil Walcott Ramsey and Arteta are all coming back into contention. Up front there is Sanchez, Giroud, Welbeck and Walcott if needed. There are no gaps in the squad of players unless the injuries become so severe again but no one can blame Wenger for not overloading the squad just because the team might suffer a lot of injuries.
You can blame him for insufficient cover at CB & DM. Both of these positions need strengthening. Coquelin had to be called back from loan!!
It's a tricky one. In the past Wenger has been accused of carrying too many players and the cries of 'Deadwood!' often used as a stick against him. You can't have 22 world class players in the squad, because 11 of those don't want to sit on the bench. That said we definitely need some cover at CB and I'd like to see us sign a proper DM (I don't think that will happen until the summer though). If our squad are all fit then we have some great options, but I can't remember when we were even able to pick from our first XI, let alone have a fully fit squad.
It doesn't matter which transfer window we are in... all most people seem to ever do is say that the signings we need to make probably won't happen until the 'next' window.
i watched Coquelin today in the defensive midfield role for Arsenal and he was very good indeed. Who can Arsenal buy that will be better than him? At centre back there is also plenty of cover when all players are fit. Arsenal have just had terrible injuries. It is not possible to just replace every position with top players to cover every injury/ what about when the players come back? The strength of the Arsenal team and bench today was amazing and Wilshere still is to come back and Arteta. Also if Coquelin continues that form then there is no need to buy another midfielder.
I could easily make the same gesture to the people who just think that buying players every time someone gets injured is the answer to winning the league.
Injuries are irrelevant to our need for a centre back and defensive midfielder. And even then... we are Arsenal and there is something fundamentally wrong with our training and/or physios which means we will ALWAYS have injuries. Coquelin was no more than 'quite good' against Stoke. He gave the ball away countless times. Against a decent team he'd be found out (as he often is when he plays).
Agree with this, while coq has played well, im worried that his poor distribution and that he loses the ball a lot would be ruthlessly exploited by a top team. Based on recent form (and future improvement) I think hes a good squad player. We desperately need cover in defence as well.
Another serious injury to Debuchy (poor bastard) makes our need for another defensive player more urgent, will Wenger buy that player we need? Doubt it.
Its incredible that as soon as Debuchy joins Arsenal he gets inhured for 3 months and then as soon as he comes back he gets pushed into advertising hordings by an orc and now hes out for another couple of months. This is nothing to do with training techniques or the club or avoidable but is ridiculously bad luck!
I wish i could be manager at Arsenal but Wenger knows more about it than me! Arsenal are just 3 points behind 3rd place and in the next round of the Fa Cup and the last 16 of the Champions league and they have done it with horrible injuries right through the team. With the players back i really don't see any need to bring in more players. That is just my opinion on it.
