ARSENAL SHOULD CONSIDER BUILDING FOR FUTURE … by Nicholas Oyoo
With a number of Arsenal players having been in the team for a while, and now looking surplus, including players like Walcott, it may be time to rebuild, first for next season and with the immediate future in mind. Perhaps the quick-fire signing of Konstantinos Mavropanos (one build for the future but with clear thoughts that if called upon, Mavropanos may even start tomorrow) maybe Arsenal are best advised to rebuild now rather than waiting. This rarely happens in mid-season, but with a season that we are chasing a seemly impossible top 4 spot and with key players likely to leave, it would not be bad advice to buy now and get the players who can begin to integrate into the new Arsenal and off to a flying start for 2018/2019, with the second half of this season used to get new players integrated.
If that be the case, then starting with goalkeepers – Arsenal would be very interested to look at either Anthony Lopes of Lyon or Sergio Rico in Seville. Sergio Rico is tall, and at a prime age of 24 and easily being kept off number 1 spot for Spain by the brilliance of one David De Gea. He could be gotten for a bargain of 20M and you would probably have the another young Petr Cech on an ascendancy.
Someone else worthy of looking at would be Anthony Lopes of Lyon and Portugal. Lopes is 6 Feet and very agile. He is a good organizer and marshaller of the defenders and maybe the kind of goalkeeper who can ‘wake-up’ Arsenal defenders to perform. He could compare to a Jens Lehmann-like profile. He is already 27 but that is young for a keeper.
I know we have already brought in Konstantinos Mavropanos. In this department we have the ageing Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal and Debuchy. We need someone who can slot right in and proceed with it like we had never even changed. James Tarkowski of Burnley would be that kind of a player. He is already 25 so he is not coming in to be grown into and has played in the Premier League too. The Polish player can also fill in in the defensive midfield if need be. For 7M he would be available immediately, but with Burnley performing surprisingly well, he could be hard work to buy right now. However, an arrangement of purchase and re-loan to the same side could be arranged.
In Central midfield we continue to ask for more players even when we have the likes of Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere and even young emerging talent. Ainsley Maitland-Niles could fill in here. Whoever, this is a sensitive area where we need to avoid pitfalls of previous seasons and strengthening would be advisable. I would go for Ignachio Camacho from VFL Wolfsburg as an additional acquisition that can give a decent if not stella performance when called upon.
With both Walcott and Sanchez knocking for exits, we would need serious recruits for the wings to remain relevant. For the left wing, Jose Arnian is with Barcelona B and only 22. He a Spanish player who would fit the mold of future stars and already linked with us before. If needs be he can fill in for attacking midfield role.
For right wing, Christian Pavon would be a considerable acquisition to replace Walcott, even an upgrade. This is an Argentinian player with Boca Juniors and still only 21 and there is considerable interest from European clubs including Inter Milan, Manchester City, Liverpool and PSG, some in the past and some right now. We have been linked with him too in the last few days. Pavon can play both wings and as second striker.
For Lacazette’s understudy we can bring in Andre Grey from Wolvehampton in the Championship. Losing the likes of Giroud, Walcott and Sanchez in this transfer window is a possibility and it means players who can fill in for decent centre forward are leaving exposing us to lack of strikers. Wolves could be tempted to let him go for 20M.
Here is my 2018 rebuilt squad. It would play in 3.4.1 pattern
—————————–Rico—————————-
—–Mustafi—–Tarkowski——Konsienly
Kolasinac———-Xhaka—–Wilshere—–Bellerin
Arnian—————–Ozil————-Pavon
———–Lacazette———
How would you suggest that Arsenal rebuild given the opportunity?