Does Arsenal failure outweigh superstar signing?

Arsenal made waves in the transfer market this month to bring in attacking talents Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but failed in their attempts to bring in a centre-back.

The Gunners were strongly linked with potential moves to sign Jonny Evans and David Luiz, with both moves seeming to break down despite enquiries on deadline day, and we will now have to settle on our current options, thanks to the 11PM deadline having passed.

Our defence has been inconsistent this season, with main centre-back Laurent Koscielny missing plenty through injury, as well as Shkodran Mustafi also struggling to remain fit on occasion. Without the pair our side suffers distinctly, and another strong and experienced defender would have been a huge plus.

Our failing has so far been overshadowed by our shrewd captures of the two former Borussia  Dortmund stars, but whilst the pair should go some way to boosting our attacking prowess, it still leaves our side short in a key area of the team.

Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have been vying for regular action in our senior squad, but neither have showed the consistency to warrant playing week-in week-out this term, and we will have to keep our fingers crossed that Kosc and Mustafi can remain fit for the remainder the campaign.

Would a defender have strengthened our overall teoriam more than a top striker? Will a centre-back be a priority come the summer?

Pat J

Tags Arsenal

13 Comments

  1. The B’mouth and Chelsea game today is an example of what happens when you have an ineffective attacking unit, where an organized teams can hit you on the counter when the play breaks down in the final third. No one can argue that Chelsea are not strong defensively when they have Kante and Bakayoko shielding the back-four. Arsenal’s attack has been ineffective for most of the season so-far, slow and useless horizontal passing, no penetrating runs from attackers, and our defenders push wayyy to high up the pitch to try to facilitate the attack leaving acres of space for counter attacking teams to exploit. My hope is that the new signings (with adjusted tactics) will actually put opposing teams on the back-foot and let our defenders focus on defending. All that said, Xhaka needs to be gone today.

    1. Exactly we dont get in behind enough and make it easy to defend against and easy to counter so its no wonder we are doing muck… need to get in behind something Walcott at least did a few times (about the only good thing he did).

  2. Arsene Wenger needs to give free rein to Steve Bould to finally earn his money and coach Arsenal players in the tactics, techniques, discipline and organization of defending as a team.
    Steve Bould was schooled in this by George Graham and desperately needs to pass on his skills to put a holt to Arsenal leaking goals. Arsenal’s defending comparative to virtually every other team in the EPL is a disgrace! The days of “one nil to the Arsenal” are a distant memory.

  3. No but our problem still exists
    (Im not talking about Wenger lol)
    Our defense.
    We desperatly need two top centre backs (Kosc, Mustf, Chambers, Holding are not good enough) and upgrade our central midfielders behind Ozil. Xhaka, Eleny, Ramsey won’t cut it.
    I think in hindsight Mustafi, Xhaka and Chambers were a waste of £86 million.
    And because of Wengers loyalty and stubborness we are stuck with them.

    Ideally, a new manager would have a spring clean out ie get rid off Xhaka, Eleny, Iwobi, Debuchy, Akpom, Welbeck. Send Chambers and Mavroponas on loan.
    Sign 2 Top CB, 1 Top DM, 1 Top box2box midfielder, back up RB. Use Nketiah and Nelson more ie as back up and League cup, FA cup matches

    Good thing is that because we have Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan there is no reason to start Iwobi anymore

  4. Keeping OZIL and getting Mkhi and Auby was awesome

    Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang and Lacazette means our attack is complete.
    No need to improve it at least for another 2- 3 years

    1. Yes our attack is great with those 4. But we still lack an explosive/ skillful winger that can cut through organised back-the-bus defences. That has been a major issue from a tactical point and that is why we pass the ball from side to side. I think apart from a good DM (since xhaka is crap) and a good CB our major target should be getting fikir in the summer. He is the missing piece. Been watching him for some time now.
      Secondly I think we should give mavropanos some game time. From the clips I have seen he is a rear gem. We might not even need to spend big on a CB.

  5. Wenger is the problem. Swansea were shit bottom of the league get a new manager with new ideas like defending Arsene that’s when you’re team stops the other team scoring in your goal.WENGER OUT..

  6. Hope song joining us again like flamini before.
    Wenger should erase deep lying playmaker in his formation, make xhaka as cm and song as dm.

  7. If you do not concede a goal you cannot lose the match. Look at how many goals we have conceded so far.

    1. Agreed but also attack is best form of defence… Sanchez was obviously trying to get everything through him .. so even though he scored a lot it did not help the team …
      Laca has not been used properly but with Ozil and Mkhi hopefully Auba with Laca runnjng off him will create havoc
      Spurs scored in 1st minute so Man Utd immediately on back foot… if new strike force can do same then our counter attack away from home will work well…. and take huge pressure off defence.. not asure ure why we went away from back 3 !
      Still need 2 good CB’s

  8. A new manager, is what we need. No matter, if we get Messi, Ronaldo and the 4 best defenders & the best goalkeeper in the world next summer, we won’t improve much, because Wenger can’t organize the team defensively.

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