Arsenal go into the New Year 5th in the Barclays Premier League after an already up and down season. They have qualified for the second round of the Champions League, but were knocked out of the domestic cup competition by League 2 opposition Bradford City. Now comes the time for change, the time when you can add and dispose, it’s the January Transfer window.
As per, December has been full of transfer rumours and 31 days in January rarely let us down. Last minute transfers, shock transfers, it has the lot. This season it should be no different.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a few players already, Barcelona’s David Villa, West Ham’s Diame and Schalke’s Klaas Jan Huntelaar to name but a few, but do Arsenal really need to change a lot?
This season (especially early season) they have impressed me. Cazorla, Giroud and Podolski look like top signings but if they do need to do anything this January it is offload before they import.
Arsenal have a number of players who are below average or just simply not cut out for the Premier League and they need to go. Arshavin, Gervinho, Djourou, Santos, Chamakh are first to spring to mind. Arsenal also have a number of players who are out on loan who, in my opinion, will never make it at Arsenal, Park (Celta Vigo), Denilson (Sao Paulo), Nicklas Bendtner (Juventus), and Emmanuel Frimpong (Charlton).
The above 9 names need to be disposed of by Arsene Wenger as soon as possible, not only will this free up squad space but will increase the funds available to Wenger to bring in fresh faces. Arsenal have a fantastic first team, however when injuries and suspensions come into play, they lack quality back up.
After watching Arsenal – Newcastle yesterday, Arsenal need to move to 4-4-2 pairing Giroud and Walcott in attack. The 4-3-3 was leaving Arsenal vulnerable at times and I believe this new formation could make them more compact as a unit therefore harder to break down. Another striker is needed; Giroud, Walcott and Podolski, there needs to be a fourth and as shown above the name that has been on everyone’s lips is Barcelona and Spain international David Villa.
Villa is now 31 and in footballing terms he has passed him peak. After his horrific leg break he has not seemed the same player and rumours have been thrown across Europe that he will be leaving Spain in the near future. I for one believe this is not what Arsenal require. David Villa will cost at least £10,000,000 and at his age I can not see much of a return on that price.
A name recently on Arsenal fans lips is Atletico Madrid’s attacking midfielder Arda Turan. The Turkish international has impressed this season in a budding Madrid side and this in turn has sparked interest from across Europe. Turan will cost around the same price as David Villa and at 6 years younger Turan would be the way to go. Another option, I believe the better option, is Newcastle United’s want away striker Demba Ba. Demba is a proven Premier League goalscorer and in recent years this is what Arsenal tend to shy away from, but with a £7,000,000 release clause this is too good to miss.
In midfield Arsenal need an anchorman, they need a Patrick Viera. Abou Diaby is the answer for some Arsenal fans but with the injuries, names have been mentioned and rumours have been circulating this December. Yann M’Vila (Rennes), Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Mohamed Diame (West Ham) are a few names to be linked with a move to the Emirates.
One player that hasn’t been mentioned and I believe would be a fantastic signing for any club is West Bromwich Albion defensive midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu. I have watched Mulumbu a few times this season and each time I have been impressed, he is solid in the tackle and plays the simple game. He does the classic defensive midfielder job, breaks up play and distributes the ball. This what Arsenal need and as we all know Arsene Wenger is tight when it comes to spending, so maybe snapping up the Congo international would be a cheaper and a wiser option.
Anything can happen with Arsenal as we know, but Arsene needs to be clever in January to secure that lucrative top 4 position. Arsene has been living on the edge this season, and after the defeat to Bradford many were calling for his head. The second half of the season needs to start well at Southampton and as a Portsmouth fan I hope Arsenal kick off 2013 in style.
Tayler Wilson
We need the do the following :
Firstly, sell off Chamakh, Doujrou, Squillachi, Denislon, Fabianski, Park, and Bendtner. I would still try and retain AA as he is quality and can always help from off the bench. I am tempted to say offlaod 'Diaby' too, but I don't see it happeneing before the summer ( the gaffer really wants to give him a final throw of the dice after Xmas to see if his fitness will hold up for more than an hour )
Then buy at least three players : We should definately acquire Fellani, Ba and possibly Mbwia from Montpeiler. These three combined would cost us less than £30 million and add an immense amount of strength and creativity to the squad.
Oh, and bloodywell give Theo what he wants and get that signature on the new deal !!
After freeing up Santos, Squillaci, Flapihandski, Arshavin, Chamakh and all the players we have on loans wages. Then get a Diame type of player, a left back for rotation(baines/shaw) and a decent goalie to keep Shez on his toes(can't believe we let Lorris get away) we would truly have a complete squad. I'm trying to be as realistic as possible here so I think if we don't sell Gervinho(which I doubt wenger will do) we, unfortunately, will not be getting another forward/winger. Which is sad because we have plenty of CFs but don't have any TRUE wingers, we have a bunch of strikers resentfully playing the position (podolski/wallcott), midfielders who are playing out wide(ramsey/ox) and Gervinho (WTF). It kills us when teams park those double dekkers at the Britannia, Carrow Rd and at the SOL
What Arsenal Need most is a solid Def. Mid and solid backup in def. (I do not want to see Santos in for Gibbs again) We can make do in attack if we can control the ball better and close down opposition attacks before they can play in their strikers. And not just a Def/ Mid that can defend only but a real top player another Vieira one that wins tackles but also has the skill when he wins the ball to contribute on attack. ala Essien or Yaya Toure. Really great def. mids contribute more then just making tackles they need to be brilliant footballers. Song is as much missed as RVP this season. We spent on forwards but Arteta is not the right player for that role and Coquelin just is not skilled enough. even if he does make the tackle he looses the ball again right after
The thing is the 9 players that most people want us to sell are hardly featuring anyway fabianski squillaci djourou santos denilson park bendtner and chamakh. i think 2 new players would be enough to replace that lot then promote 6 young players to the first team as well. it would really give the academy a boost if martinez meade miquel yennaris eisfeld afobe and gnabry were all made official. then we signed a DM and a winger. Capoue and Turan.
The thing is the 9 players that most people want us to sell are hardly featuring anyway fabianski squillaci djourou santos denilson park bendtner and chamakh. i think 2 new players would be enough to replace that lot then promote 6 young players to the first team as well. it would really give the academy a boost if martinez meade miquel yennaris eisfeld afobe and gnabry were all made official. then we signed a DM and a winger. Capoue and Turan.