There are three major events that are happening this summer.
- Euro 2012
- The Olympics
- Arsenal’s Transfer Activity
It’s an extra-ordinary off season for all of us who live in England as it’s going to be back to back, millions of people will join us post the Euros as London becomes the venue for the Olympics. I managed to get tickets, so I am one of the lucky few… although the Gods seem to like to stunt my variation of sports – I’ve got Wembley, semi-final of the football!
Now, the most important thing this summer is surely how Arsene and his scouting and negotiating team can improve the team. Improve is just one word, but it has a wider connotation than just signing people.
We’ve got to do some spring cleaning. And whilst it’s fun to think of all the lavish new signings we want, it’s important to shift the dead wood. If Arsene can get Denilson, Vela, Bendtner, Chamakh, Park, Squillaci, Fabianski and Djourou off our books, we’ll get some money in, we’ll get them off our wage bill and we’ll be able to re-invest.
For every Denilson and Vela we shift, it will free up wages for a M’Vila; if we shift Squillaci, Park and Chamakh, that’s a new shiny striker in the squad. This summer, Arsene really should have come up with some sort of incentive to get the fans involved. Any fan who manages to successfully get rid of any of the aforementioned players gets a season for life!
I’ve held off writing a blog for the last couple of days, so that Tottz’s WOA Questionnaire could get some airtime… and it’s proved an interesting debate for many. I’ve been added a few replies on to the article too, but still have a lot of questions to answer. If you’ve not done so yet, it’s worth a read and both Tottz and myself would be very interested in the answers.
I’ve been debating the transfer requirements with quite a few top Gooners in the last couple of the weeks, and I have one question for you?
If the squad remained as is, and you could strengthen only one position, which position would that be?
When asked, it made me think, what major difference would one player in one position make to the whole squad. It was a tough one, as there are some areas that are in obvious need of strengthening, and some other areas which we will need to strength for general squad numbers too. But identifying the exact one position that overwhelms others is a very good question.
With Almunia already departed and Fabianski hoping to leave, we will be short in the goal keeping department and for that reason, I do expect Arsene to buy someone. However, the question is more about the first team.
My initial reaction was “we need a defensive midfielder”, a top one – and I think that the general consensus. Song goes forward and leaves Arteta to cover the back four, but without Arteta in the team, no-one mops up, which as we saw at the end of the season, leaves a gaping hole. But, next season, if all goes well, we’ll have Wilshere back, Arteta back and both Frimpong and Coquelin as defensive midfielders. Add Song, Rosicky, Diaby and Ramsey, who out of this group could make way for the likes of M’Vila?
But, shouldn’t we be looking to having a “proper” central midfielder like M’Vila or the like of such a player in the middle of the park – a Tiote – someone who sits in front of the back four, and shouldn’t we loan out younger players like Ramsey and Frimpong until they’re actually ready for the first team?
After that little ramble, the thought process went to the back four – Saga, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs – do we need to replace any of them? Well, we have conceded a lot of goals, that’s for sure. Kos has been excellent this season, and Vermaelen doesn’t need any discussion. Sagna is one of the best right backs in the league and Gibbs has been very impressive.
Wingers? Gervinho, Walcott & Oxlade are three players who will only get better next season, but Walcott was clearly over-used and had no competition for his place in the team. Gervinho had an on / off season and Oxlade, well, is the junior. Another winger would be an excellent addition.
Strikers? We play one striker, and the question above assumes that Van Persie will be with us (despite my thoughts to the contrary) and Podolski has joined. So two top forwards – it sounds very interesting.
So back to the question….
If the squad remained as is, and you could strengthen only one position, which position would that be?
I’ll leave that question with you…
