From Scott: What Arsenal Need Next Season
Hi there, well what a season!! So much promise and a bright future ahead. As far as the season went I have to say that without the loss of Ramsey & Walcott for a large part of the season I feel we would have closed the 7 point gap between us and eventual winners City. Apart from the obvious terrible away losses we suffered I feel the tactics we employed on those days effected the score line more than the actual performances.
So taking this into consideration I feel as a squad we are not far from a title winning one. There are some vital positions that need covering and improving. Firstly we need to keep the same numbers in the squad or increase them for the next injury crisis we all know is going to hit sooner or later. With the expected departures of Sagna and Fabianski we need a first team RB. We will also need cover for CB as Sagna was very capable cover there. We can not go through another season with only 3 CB’s. So straight away we need a RB, CB cover and a back up GK to challenge Szczseny. So 3 players to just keep us as strong as now. So how about improving and closing that gap well I feel we need a strong and world class DM. Arteta and Flamini have been great this season but in all honesty I feel a Bender or M’Vila type will greatly improve us.
Then there is the striking department. Giroud is brilliant but goes missing in the bigger games. To win the league and have a chance at doing better in the champions league we will need at least 2 strikers. I feel a world class player in the Benzema mould would be fantastic. Forget his poor performance in the CL final he is proven class. We will also need a plan b. I feel this player has to be the opposite of Giroud/Benzema and be a small, quick, behind the lines player in the style of Ian Wright. The closest I can find to this sort of player who is available and at a decent price is Loic Remy or Adrian from Atletico Madrid. Players we have been linked with in the past.
To summarise, I feel we will sign 3 players for the first team squad and maybe a loan GK or striker. With these additions I feel our trophy drought will not even stretch to 1 year. Keeping all our players fit or unavailable for short periods is vital but with the right additions we have the potential to go far.
The loss of Ramsey and Theo this season was a massive reason we weren’t closer to the top last season. In a lot of the big games where we lost by massive score lines, we didn’t have that one player with the pace to stretch games or get in behind. More powerful teams like Manchester City and Chelsea can suffocate us while teams like Liverpool had a lot more pace all over the pitch.
We do need another right back but I think Carl Jenkinson is ready to step up and fill Sagna’s large shoes (or boots). We should bring in an experienced RB who is happy to be backup for Jenkinson. I think we’ll also need another deputy central defender as I’d be surprised if Thomas Vermaelen stays on after being on the bench for the last few seasons.
I agree that we need two more strikers, as Giroud isn’t enough to win any domestic league and has limitations. I don’t think Karim Benzema is the solution though. If we’re going to spend £30 million plus on a striker then it needs to be someone better than Benzema. He’s not world class and isn’t good enough to fire us to the Premier League title. Loic Remy though is someone I’d like to see at The Emirates – he’s quick, an excellent finisher and would be available for around £8 million which is an absolute steal. He’s good enough to be the main striker and wouldn’t mind making way for Giroud now and then, and could even partner the big man when required.
With Sagna, Fabianski and Bendtner leaving (don’t laugh) the squad will be a bit light on numbers and we will need a goalkeeper, a couple of defenders, a midfielder and two strikers. Will we get those? Probably not as Arsene isn’t the type to spend huge money on several big signings but I believe (well hope) that we need to buy 3 quality signings in defence, midfield and attack. I think that Arsene will supplement the other positions with young signings or free transfers.
We need strengthening in the summer if we’re going to compete and Arsene needs to make sure he recruits the right players. We know he has World Cup commitments but hopefully he has his phone with him at all times!