With the Transfer Window seemingly just around the corner, and life at the club seeming more settled than it did in the panic-stricken few weeks at the end of Summer, perhaps this "calm before the storm" period is a good time to gauge what the team needs to compete next year? In my most humble of opinions it is not only new purchases that are required, but a few players can be removed at the same time. If PSG are seriously interested in Chamakh, they can have him for the reputed 10m. If Anzi or almost anyone else are seriously interested in Arshavin, they can also have him for the reported 10m!! Bendy is adamant that he never wants to play for the club again, and so should be sold. As should Denilson, Almunia, and Squillaci. That would leave: GK - Chesney, Fabianski, Mannone RB - Sagna, Jenkinson, Koscielny LB - Santos, Gibbs, Tommy V CB - Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Djourou, Miguel DM - Song, Coquelin, Frimpong CM - Wilshere, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Diaby WF - Theo, Gervinho, Benayoun, Oxo, Miyaichi ST - RvP, Park In my opinion, Diaby's days are numbered. He needs to show some class during this season or I think he should be off in summer. I'd like to see a new winger and a new striker coming in to replace Chamakh & Arshavin. Perhaps a new high-quality CM to give genuine competition for places too, but that would be dependent upon Diaby or Rosicky leaving.
I cant see Wenger buying anyone of true worth in January. He hasnt done yet so why break the habits of a lifetime. It'll be bargain basement time again , and hope for the best.
I'm expecting it to be no-one at all. Why would he ? We added 9 new players in the Summer, Jack is yet to come back and Joel Campbell hasn't kicked a ball for the club yet, the size of the squad is fine and when Sagna returns we'll look stronger still. Whether this is good enough to grab 4th is another argument....
I would love to see the arrival of a top class striker to share goal scoring responsibilities with RVP. Although a top striker would be unlikely to settle for a place on the bench, maybe a young striker that has a proven scoring record could be brought in. Someone like Jovetic, a class striker who would not mind waiting for his chance. I like Park but worry over his physicality.
"I think a name change is needed? " certainly not, unless you think Wenger can stay coach for another 14 years , i dont. Im optimisic about our future. Think Harry will still be at Spurs in 14 years ?
Agree about replacing Arshavin. But if he can then I think its better to find a player that can play in the middle and on the wings. Getting a new forward goes without saying.
Podolski. A shade under 6ft, can play on the left or down the middle and rumoured to be available for 20m - exactly the amount Arsenal may receive for Arshavin & Chamakh. If both those players were shipped out in January and Podolski came in, how happy would you be?
I still think Arshavin is a good player to have in the squad - i would be happy with Podolski as an addition to the squad but would be sad to see Arshavin leave as i think he is a magic player. As for Chamakh - i feel gutted for him. He is a quality player but needs to play consistently to hit the form we require from him and with RVP in the side and firing on all cylinders he isn't going to get the game time he needs to play at the level we need. He did very well for his first half a season though and i'd pat him on the back and wish him all the best if he was sold. And £10 million would be a nice profit as well
Fair enough. You clearly think it will be ok by 2025. I can't argue with that, just didn't think your username was looking so far ahead.
yeah i dont think he reads too well. He seems to think i WAS suggesting Wenger would be around for the next 14 years. No comment tho on what happens when their manager gets banged up for fraud.
So who have we been linked with? Cahill, K. Toure, Hazard, Goetze, Podolski - anyone else? Who are the ones who look more likely (consistent rumours)? Hazard (previously but now not so sure), Cahill (again previously but now not sure if we are in for a defender) and Podolski (seems to be gaining momentum) And who do you want at the club? I'd be happy with any real quality addition to the squad. I'm happy with our defence at the moment but wouldn't mind another addition to the back unit as a back-up so that Djourou doesn't play as often - he is good but not consistent enough yet. Overall though i'm happy with defence and don't think we particularly need to add any players. We have TV, Kosc and Mert who are all good enough in the centre, Sagna and Jenkinson are good options at the right with Kosc able to cover if needed, and Santos/Gibbs good options on the left with TV able to cover if needed. A starting line of Sagna----Kosc---Verm---Santos is impressive for ability at the back and going forward. We would only need an addition for the defence if we have injuries etc so not sure if the targets we would want would be happy to play such a back-up role. Midfield - we have good options in Wilshere, Ramsey, Arteta, Song, Diaby, Rosicky. But injuries could leave us slightly short in this area and i wouldn't mind a player joining who could play at CM as well as another position. Wings - Walcott, Gervinho, Arshavin, Beny, Oxocube, Miyaichi. I'm happy with our starting two Walcott and Gervinho who are playing well at the moment (Gervinho will get better infront of goal i'm sure) and Beny can do a decent job as well. Arshavin is a bit off the pace but i still think he is a quality player if he is sold we will need another winger for sure. Oxocube and Miyaichi are both very talented players who i'd like to see more of but an experienced head may be worth adding to the wings. A player who can play on the wing and another position would be good. Forward - RVP is the main man and no-one can compete with him - any player in the world would struggle to get a start with him in the squad. Park we are yet to see what he can do and unfortunately Chamakh needs a logn run of games to find his form again and we can't give him that so it may be time for him to move on (although i do rate him as a player). Walcott and Gervinho can also play down the middle if required. It would be nice to have a really top quality back-up but i think Park will prove to be very good and next season we have Campbell comming through as well. Possibly a striker who can play another position. So basicaly if we got in two players who can between them cover CM/Wings/Striker roles i'd be very happy. Podolski can play the LW and Striker roles and a player like Hazard could cover the CM and Wings - not saying we will get those players but it's those type of players we should be looking at imo. But again i'll say - I'd be happy with any real quality addition to the squad.
I still think we are one or two players short (although we do have a much bigger squad now) and to be fair to Wenger, he made bids for players in the summer that did not materialise. So he can't be accused of not trying to sign quality players.
I'm happy with what Wenger achieved during the summer and think he went in for other top quality targets as well. I think he definitely knows what is required within the team and knows the level of signings we need to make. I'm not 100% sure we will add anything in January but i think next summer will be a good transfer window provided our season goes alright (top 4 and a good run in a cup preferably CL). Although i would like to see a decent addition during the January window So far the summer signings are looking good.
I can't beleive the apathy on here, some of you guys are too easily pleased. Already Mertesacker is turning out to be a right donkey, Benayoun is only on loan and Arteta has yet to show any real class. They were panic buys at best. Wenger needs to splash the cash in January, if not he'll be gone in May.
I agree fully with this. Would love to see Podolski at Arsenal. I have been a big fan of his for a while and feel he would definitely lift some of the goal scoring burden off of RVP.
