Arsenal’s midfield is strong enough with Wilshere and Diaby coming back soon, and several youngsters like Ryo Miyaichi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin waiting in the wings.
I think we have got enough personnel defensively too, but there is a clear lack of quality in the backup department and the injury record of Gibbs doesn’t help.
Arsenal appear to have given up on Cahill, so my personal choice would be long-term Arsenal target and Vermaelen’s Belgian team-mate, Jan Vertonghen. He is a fantastic defender with good aerial presence and tackling abilities. He is also very versatile, with the ability to play both at centre-back, left-back and also in the holding midfield role. He would solve several problems for Wenger – providing cover for the centre of defence, left back and be another backup option for Alex Song.
Wenger also has to deal with several disillusioned players in the squad like Andrey Arshavin, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone. If any of these players leave, along with players leaving for the African cup of Nations in January, then the depth of the squad will be reduced hugely. There is also the task of slowly clearing the deadwood. Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci have no future at Arsenal anymore and it is important for the club to sell these players and use those wages on better players.
Signing Vertonghen and a decent back up for Van Persie would cost Arsenal a maximum of £25 million. He would be able to compensate for that by selling the likes of Almunia, Squillaci and Arshavin, though I am a huge admirer of the Russian. It would solve Arsenal’s problems at either ends of the pitch and give Wenger more freedom to rest and rotate his key players.
It will also allow Wenger to focus on renewing Van Persie’s contract during the summer and strengthen the midfield.
In my opinion, we still need a marquee signing to replace Cesc Fabregas and Wenger will have to ponder whether he wants to sign one of hit top targets like Mario Gotze, Yann M’Vila, Eden Hazard and Lukas Podolski, as well as others.
To conclude, I think Arsenal’s defence and attack needs some form of reinforcing, while I think we have enough options in midfield to see us through this season. It would be unwise for Wenger not to make any winter additions though, given that players will leave for the African Cup of Nations and also the apparent lack of quality to heap the pressure of Van Persie.
Get the coffers open!
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