When one Window closes, another opens
It’s the 25th June and the transfer officially opens in 5 days, (although it feels like it’s been in full swing for the last month.) With all the gossip and rumours flying around, I thought I’d put together my wish list of a possible 25 man squad, the new faces to interview, (as the Gunners Town Reporter Down Under,) when Arsenal arrive down under and assess whether this squad would be good enough to challenge on 4 fronts.
Wellmington’s Wish List
Keepers – Cech, Martinez and AN Other
Centre backs – Kos, Mustafi, Holding, BFG, Chambers and AN Other
Wing Backs – Bellerin, The Ox, Monreal, Kolasinac
Centre midfield – Xhaka, Elneny, Rambo, Carzorla, and AN Other
Forwards – Ozil, Iwobi, Lamar, Mbappe, Giroud, Lacazette, Wellbez
On the plane to Sydney?
By my reckoning, this would mean that;
Szczesny, Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Gabriel, Jenkinson, Le Coq, Jack, Theo, Perez and, which much sadness, Alexis are all likely to leave.
Now I know this is me taking a massive punt at Arsenal splashing upwards of £200 million (on 3 forwards!!!), but this would be offset by some big money outs;
Gibbs is quoted at around £15m, Theo can still command £20m, Jack would still draw in about £10m and the elephant in the room, Alexis, would net £50-60m, if we play hardball.
In addition, let’s face it, we need to make a statement, we need to adjust the squad to match the new system and we need do it early doors.
Would this squad be up for the challenges ahead?
Personally, Yes. (I am ever the optimist)
Man for man, I believe, with the addition of a big name in centre midfield, this squad matches City, Chelsea or anything the top 6 can put together.
Selling Alexis would be disappointing (to say the least) but inevitable.
Signing Mbappe and Lacazette would be a statement and a half, and offloading the likes of Gibbs and Jack (who aren’t cutting the mustard) and Theo (who does not fit the system) would free up cash for wages and transfers.
See you later boys?
The task would then be to have the team ready in August, so that for once we can hit the ground running.
Therefore, Arsene, your mission, which you must accept, is to:
Get Mbappe and Lacazette on the flight to Sydney,
Find and secure ANOther in Central midfield
Sell Alexis outside the Premier League, and
Get Darren Burgess on the pre-season case as soon as possible.
Fitness, the biggest challenge?
Until nest time…..
English by birth, Australian by choice. Traffic Engineer, Arsenal ST Holder, Sun DreamTeam Winner, Writer on @GunnersTown, Depeche Mode, Welcome to my world…
I’m the only one not necessarily convinced by Thomas Lemar yet. Bags of potential but very raw, it would be great if we did buy him but as someone who can be placed in the squad, would love someone like Adra Turan who has been linked with us brought alongside Lemar. I think many people underappreciated the loss of Santi last season and how that had a detrimental affect on us. We need someone who can be tidy in small spaces and who can be a fundamental part in our build up play which we seriously lacked last season and can enforce himself in the game a bit more.