What I would do if I was in charge of Arsenal FC

Centre-back:

TV5 is excellent. We all know this. But who to play with him? And/or who should we sign to bolster this crucial position? Djourou and Koscielny both look like very good defenders in the making. There is work to be done with both, but I see both as having the potential of making the spot next TV5 their own. Add to the mix Squillaci, Miquel and Bartley and we’ve got plenty of cover – or so you would think. I still reckon we need one more player. Wenger will be looking at the situation and weighing up his options. On one hand he could buy a top class player, but in doing so he knows that one of the young players in his team are going to have to leave to make room. On the other hand, he will look at buying a mid-priced player to compete with Kos and Djourou for that starting place. This is the more likely option, with Wenger hoping that a top quality pairing will emerge from the intense competition. The fact that TV5 will quite likely end up playing a chunk of games as left-back this year makes signing a centre-back essential. If it was my call I’d sign the top quality option – Jagielka, Mertersaker or Cahill. Perhaps Wenger gets a little too sentimental about some of the young players at the club. We need someone who’s going to start each game, a player who is going to boss that defence. My money would be on Jagielka. Feel free to disagree.

Centre-midfield:

Nasri and Fabregas are going, going, gone. That leaves us Ramsey, Wilshere, Song, Rosicky, Frimpong, Lansbury, Eastmond and Diaby (Arshavin and Chamberlain can also play through the middle). We clearly need to strengthen here. I’d argue that ultimately the future of the club is Wilshere, Ramsey, Lansbury and Song, but we still need to recruit. No matter how excellent these players are going to be, they’re not there yet. One top quality player and I think we’re all sorted. Any more and we’ll stifle what we’ve already got at the club. Nasri played a lot of football on the wing, and had he not got greedy I think he’d have started every game in the middle and we wouldn’t be worrying about recruiting a new player. So, who to sign? Parker or Barton would provide the bite we need (though I can’t see the latter coming – can you?!). Mata or Hazard would provide the skills, speed and penetration we need. If I had to choose, I’d go with Hazard. Not only has he got the coolest name, but he looks like he’s going to turn into a top, top player. This summer might be the only time we could ever afford to sign him.

Wingers/Strikers:

Walcott, Chamberlain, Arshavin, Van Persie, Chamakh, Bendtner, Miyaichi and Gervinho – I think we’ve got an embarrassment of riches in this department. If we’re going to buy someone then they’ve got to better than what we’ve already got at the club, otherwise it’s pointless. Benzema would make an excellent acquisition, but isn’t necessarily an essential purchase. I hope Walcott gets a chance to play up top with Van Persie this season.

We need two or three players now. Right now. There’s no point taking any more gambles on players like Campbell and Jenkinson. We need proven talent. Players with potential will only add to what is an incredible array of potentially excellent players already at the club. We need players who can make an immediate impact. For what it’s worth, I’d sign Jagielka, Hazard and Benzema. We’d win leagues, cups and charity shields with these players added to what is, for my money, the most exciting young team in the world.

Signing big name players isn’t easy. It can’t be. They’re massive deals that require intense negotiation.

Let’s hope that the club is working hard towards securing the signings we need to push on and start winning the trophies our football deserves.

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