If I Were Arsene, part II

by Come on the Arsenal!

With the curtain falling on what has been another season of high drama (even if the story didn’t have the happy ending we were all hoping for), it’s time to stop gunning for glory and start searching for signatures. This time last summer saw us sell two of our most prominent players and bring in only one relative unknown, but with the fans restless (to say the least), the coffers full, and Wenger surprisingly outspoken about the need for ‘really top class’ players, every Arsenal fan is hoping for a busy transfer window.

Ever the fantasists, the trio of bloggers at www.comeonthearsenal.com have decided to take turns in putting ourselves in Wenger’s chaussures (if you’ll pardon our French) and imagined that we were the ones pulling the purse strings this summer. Welcome to ‘If I Were Wenger, part deux’.

We started by asking ourselves five question:

a) Which players we’d love to see at Arsenal (within faint bounds of realism)

b) Which players we’d love to see at Arsenal who we’ve actually been realistically linked with

c) Which players we have to keep

d) Which players we want out

e) Which players we’ve been linked that we really don’t want!

Before I start spending my Monopoly millions however, a quick assessment of the squad is required to see where action must be taken. In fact I believe there’s less reason to panic than our disastrous last few games indicate. Our defence will welcome back Djourou and Gibbs, and with Sol signing a contract extension I feel we only need sign one quality defender to fill the hole that William Gallas is presumably going to leave. Assuming our midfield can start the season healthy we seem to be spoiled for choice in this area. Arshavin, Song, Fabregas, Diaby and Nasri is an enviable collection of players, although some extra hero-factor in midfield is never a bad thing especially with our injury record. Meanwhile Denilson, Walcott, Eboue and Rosicky may have their critics but they are strong squad players capable of the odd storming performance – as was Ramsey before his injury and we may see him back early in 2011. We also have Wilshere let’s not forget. Where we struggled most was strikers this season, with Vela anonymous, Eduardo little better, and Van Persie and Bendtner frequently unavailable. The arrival of Chamakh-attack will be a welcome one, and with him VP and Bendy competing for one spot it’s arguable whether we even need another forward, especially if Eduardo stays. The goalkeeper situation we all know about…

Right let the fantasies begin!

a) Which players we’d love to see at Arsenal (within faint bounds of realism)

On paper our midfield is our strongest area, but with Fabregas frequently injured and the likes of Nasri and Diaby looking a bit lost without him, there’s no doubt we need an experienced head in the centre of the park driving us forward. I feel a classic all-rounder of the British mould is needed. Someone who offers more grit and better defensive awareness than the likes of Arshavin, Walcott, Nasri and Rosicky who are far too easily by-passed by quality opposition. Scott Parker is the obvious choice and surely 10 or 12 million would be enough to prize him away from West Ham? Elsewhere Real Madrid may find themselves with too many players of that ilk, especially if they manage to pick up Gerrard… Diarra or naturally Alonso could be perfect. Meanwhile Yaya Toure is being linked with Tottenham. Surely he’d look better in red and white? Finally I’d love to add Stephen Ireland to our squad sheet. I can’t believe such a talented player is being left out of the City starting eleven time and time again, and his passing and technique would suit our style of play down to the ground.

b) Which players we’d love to see at Arsenal who we’ve actually been realistically linked with

As I’m not much better at judging keepers than AW himself, I’m not going to pretend to know who exactly who we should bring in of the many names we’ve been linked with already in the last couple of weeks, but one name that stands out of course is Gianluigi Buffon with the player himself stating that he would be willing to leave Juventus if the club decided to cash in on him. The idea that we would swap him and Melo for Fabregas and Van Persie however is more ludicrous than Adebayor’s pigtails and doesn’t deserve further comment. Elsewhere picking up Joe Cole on a free could represent good business, even if his wages are high, especially if Arshavin continues to clumsily stroke Barcelona’s ego from afar. Arshavin is the more talented player no doubt, but the extra work rate and (hopefully) better attitude of JC could make up for this if we decide we’ve had enough of the Russian who is beginning to be more annoying off the field than productive on it. For our defence Brede Hangeland would be perfect but he clearly spurned us last summer, so it would be strange if he were to turn up now – although yesterday’s painful loss against Athletico Madrid in the UEFA Cup Final might have him reevaluate his ambitions. Here’s hoping! Gary Cahill could be welcome at the right price (ie. not the 20 million Bolton are rumoured to be asking). Naturally if Arsene and his scouts can insert a cool couple of million into the Wenging Machine and extract Vermaelen 2.0 then I’m sure all of us will be more than happy.

c) Which players we have to keep

I have no fears that Wenger will sell any of our effervescent ‘champagne players’ (except perhaps Arshavin, which I would accept for the right price). Otherwise it’s important to hang on to Clichy (linked with Barcelona) who has been one of our most consistent performers after recovering his form after injury. Gibbs is quality but if we are going to be ambitious we need two great players in every position and can’t let players of Clichy’s quality go when they’re in their prime. I would like to see us hold on to Gallas too, but we clearly haven’t offered him enough to stay. I hope we keep Eboue too, who has been linked with a move to Italy. He offers us some extra options, especially coming on for Sagna at right back which I’d like to see more often.

d) Which players we want out

You’re not going to believe this, but I actually hope Almunia stays… but as our number two keeper to whatever go-gadget-armed mutant octopus we bring in as our first choice gloveman. Every club needs an experienced number two and I don’t think he’s been the nightmare everyone says he has. Fabianski on the other hand has. I don’t blame him for what happened at Blackburn, but if he isn’t sold he needs a season on loan, where he can practice catching crosses at someone else’s expense. For all his potential Vela is beginning to look like a hopeless case (was that chip vs. Fulham the goal that saved his Arsenal career?) and of course its high time we said goodbye to our very own Manchester United reject, Silvestre. A bizarre purchase that I’ll never understand (but I’m sure has something to do with both AW and Silvestre being French. Liberty, equality and brotherhood and all that). As for Eduardo, he may find himself fourth in the pecking order for a solitary place up front in a system which clearly hasn’t suited him. It feels like it will be victory for thuggery if he leaves before he’s given the chance to prove himself following his leg break… however there’s not much room for sentiment in football and if I were Arsene I’d think about letting him go.

e) Which players we’ve been linked that we really don’t want!

There’s been no specific player linked to us yet that’s got my blood curdling, but – Joe Cole aside – if Manchester United or Chelsea are letting them go then that means they’re not good enough for us either! So no Salomon Kalou please! Other than that anyone under the age of 23, or anyone dubbed ‘the next Henry/Viera/Zidane’ is a definite no no. ‘Potential’ is a dirty word this summer as far as I’m concerned. Footballing talent we have in abundance. Leaders, experience, determination and maturity is what we need

Ok, so there we have it. It’s not too much to ask I think. Chamakh is on his way, and then I’d add Scott Parker, Hangeland and Buffon (and Joe Cole or Stephen Ireland if Arshavin leaves. Also quite excited about both the Wright-Phillips and the Arteta rumours, although again if the Owl flies the nest). Surely our reported 35-40 million funds (maybe a bit more if we can find buyers for Vela and Eduardo) can get us these three – or the rough equivalent -and strengthen the spine that our critics have so gleefully mocked for the past two or three seasons. I really don’t think much more surgery is required if you consider that we weren’t able to put out our strongest team on a single occasion this season and frequently had 8 to 10 first team player unavailable. I don’t want to say that kind of bad luck couldn’t happen again, because I’m far too superstitious to fall into that trap… but surely that kind of bad luck can’t happen again?

Ok, not much else to say except to refer you to SmartArse’s very own assessment of our transfer needs in If I Were Arsene, part I. Andre The Giant is still compiling his shortlist. If you want to ask yourself the same questions feel free to comment below!

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