Much has been written about Arsenal’s defence this season and the desperate need for a quality centre-back to be acquired during the summer. However, due to the performances of Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou’s performances last season, do we just need an adequate cover option for when either of these two pick up an injury, or do we need to go all out and sign a big name centre-back?
Koscielny has impressed a lot of people in his first season at Arsenal, which rightly earned him a call up to the France squad…so he must be doing something right, especially considering the fact that just three years ago he was playing for Tours in Division 3. I still think the best is yet to come from the 25-year-old. With time and a bit more developing, Koscielny could potentially be a great player for Arsenal and France.
Djourou has equally been impressive this season, and done a good job filling the gap left by Thomas Vermaelen. It is also worth noting that up until Djourou was injured we hadn’t lost a Premier League game when he played. He certainly has developed over the years, and at only 24 years of age, the Switzerland international can only get better with time.
I truly believe that both have earned their places within the Arsenal squad, and should be credited for their efforts. However, I do think we require a centre-back until both players are ready to take the position on a full-time basis. It is also worth considering that we have struggled with injuries in this department this season, so bringing in a player would be a sensible decision on Wenger’s part.
I would like to see Arsenal with the depth to not have to worry about injuries, and if that means making a tough decision and losing a few players, who haven’t performed, then so be it. But we shouldn’t get rid of the players whose performances this season have been superb.
The signing of either Chris Samba or Gary Cahill would be superb this summer, purely for the fact that Arsenal need a big name signing to organise the defence, as I don’t feel either Koscielny or Djourou have that capability yet.
If I had to drop either Koscielny or Djourou from the line-up, then it would have to be the Frenchman – his mistake cost us the Carling Cup final, and evidently, downhearted our team morale.
I, along with every Arsenal fan, want the Gunners to end their trophyless run next season, and I also want to see a lot more of this in our next campaign:
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Not really, we need a holding midfielder more, since song and wilshere cannot defend on set pieces.
dudes please!
arsene is not buying any defender with bartley ready for first team.when defenders make mistakes could be costly but when strikers fail to score the team will also fail to win. why didnt arsenal score 3 or 4 goals against fulham and aston villa?
i wouldnt mind a new defender, not samba he’s not good enough for arsenal. but we need a goalmachine more.
remember djourou and koscielny carried us all season,considering we played 3 games a week. the culprit here is squillaci, if bartley takes his position as backup and perform well to give senior defenders much needed rest we will be alright.
but it will be a crime if wenger doesnt bring solutions for our 2 donkeys, arshavin and bendtner.they let us down badly, arsenal season failed apart because we had to replay small teams in cup games. that caused tiredness and injuries to most first team players.i personally wish they could leave.
I’m sorry but Djourou and Koscielny are very good players. There’s hardly any mention of Vermaelen or his absence. Had he been fit all season, either Djourou or Koscielny would have been great with him and have improved. Nobody foresaw Vermaelen being out for most of the season. The other centre-halves are there to partner Vermaelen, it wasn’t envisioned for them to be partnering each other, not for so long anyway.
To ensure against another Vermaelen injury or perhaps a suspension, another centre-half will be purchased, but remember the two golden rules of Arsene Wenger.
a) We will only buy the RIGHT player for the team.
b) We will only buy the RIGHT player for the team at the RIGHT price.
The centre-half will have to fit these two rules. I agree with much of what bc said above, but I wouldn’t move Vermaelen to left fullback unless there was at least one centre-half of his calibre partnering Djourou and Kosielny. I would deffo move Gibbs up on the wing. Ashley Young might be OK, but he dives too much for my liking, yet with him being a life-long Arsenal fan does suggest he’ll have heart and it could swing it for his signature. He’s quite a versatile player and fast. It would be funny having a Walcott on both wings with that pace if they both click with the team and get in form. With Wilshere, Fabregas and Nasri inside midfield, anyone up front would just be a bonus and unlikely to be necessary. It would be too funny, especially with a solid defense and Chezzer on his game.
We don’t have a title winning defense with regard to both players and mentality. We should have bought Hangeland last summer.
This summer we need two world class centre backs – sakho, and an experienced, aggressive, pacy cb, maybe subotic, sell djourou and squillaci, we can’t continue throwing away seasons waiting for players to improve.
And yes, the midfield needs to begin making some defensive contributions, also sell song and denilson and bring in inler and parker. Otherwise just forget it, this team cannot defend.
Djourou made all the mistakes this season loosin his marker in set pieces etc he has nothing but strenght on kosielny n kosielny would come stronger next season bring in mertesacker not samba he injury prone
Yes they need midfielders that can defend all of dem attack we need players like toulalan,cambiasso and melo
I think both Djourou and Koscielny have played well for us this season, but the fact is they have both done basic mistakes which have cost us vital points and trophies. I think we need an experienced centre half who is not only brilliant, but someone who is strong physically and someone with leadership qualities.
Yes, he does.
Next question.
We need 2…kos will improve..but djourou lacks the focus and temperament needed for a top premier league side.
“What can we do wiz 5 defender- Verma, Kos, Djourou, Scualeci and Samba.” What AW said in January transfer Window. The same thing will happen for the next season. What a shame idea is it???