IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUILD A WINNING ARSENAL IN ONE WINDOW? by Nicholas
In my opinion, Emery’s best squad right now with the injuries situation and the balance he is looking out to is the pattern of 3.4.1.2. However, Emery will face the problem with his personnel and that’s how he can lift his Arsenal team to being able to compete with the best in the EPL.
Right now, in that pattern we would get a squad that reads like below: –
———–Lacazette—Aubameyang——-
———————–Ramsey/Ozil————————
Kolasinac—–Torreira—-Xhaka—-Maitland-Niles
—-Koscielny/Monreal——–Sokratis———Mustafi
———————–Leno————————
However, to get this squad to become winners in the short sprint of a single window would be investing in the right places. First in attack, Lacazette and Aubameyang continue to look like a potent partnership that should be let loose to flourish. Their duet has been affected by some ineffective support personnel, in the likes of Ozil and Ramsey. Emery can get rid of the two in this window and replace them with Hakim Ziyech, the high flying Moroccan from Ajax who can score goals, he has done 10, can give assists, he has 5 and these statistics are in just 13 games. To assist him, Emery should recall Reiss Nelson, school Iwobi in the role as well as allow Emile Smith-Rowe to fight for the role of Deputy in chief. If they all fail to stamp their authority, Emery still got Mkhitaryan to bring in here, he gave a good account of himself in that role against Southampton, scoring twice though Arsenal lost the match. With a player who can shoot from outside, who can dribble, and who can make those defense splitting passes, Ziyech could be the man to bring the click in the duet of Lacazette and Aubameyang – consistently.
There is no need for changes in the centre. Xhaka, Torreira and Guendouzi are doing a good job and with players like Maitland-Niles and Elneny able to come in, perhaps Denis Suarez if Arsenal can get him would be a perfect acquisition to enhance competition in this area.
But it is in the defense and the wing backs that Emery can finally stamp his repackage. He should get rid of Mustafi, Koscielny, and Monreal and if possible, he should also sell Kolasinac. Mustafi is too inconsistent; Koscielny and Monreal are in the wrong end of 30 and often out injured. Kolasinac is injury prone too. Who to bring in?
Alex Telles (Kolasinac): 25Million, and arguably an upgrade to Kolasinac. The Brazilian has won lots of trophies with both Porto and Galatasaray and knows what winning is about.
Stevan Savic (Mustafi): has been the mainstay in the Atletico Madrid exploits and would bring in grit and fight in the defense more than what Mustafi brings and will be consistent. He would cost 40Million.
Kalidou Koulibaly (Koscielny) – Koscielny served Arsenal for a long period and Koulibaly would continue the tradition with a world class performance. He would be costly – but if Liverpool could spend such figures, Arsenal should show similar ambitions. If we fail to get Koulibaly because of competition or even the current club Napoli, refusing to listen to such plans from Arsenal, then a player like Inigo Martinez Berridi from Athletic Bilbao. He could be enticed with possibilities of playing in Europe next season with Bilbao sitting dangerously in the relegation zone, this should not be tough.
Kieran Tierney (Monreal) – at 21 and costing just 12million, he would be a bargain and maybe Arsenal don’t have to sell Monreal as Tierney comes in so as to encourage the youngster to settle with lesser pressure. Monreal can be given a year longer and could be allowed to leave on a free once the contract ends. Bellerin is also there to help out. Celtic would be almost unable to prevent the purchase.
Once these acquisitions are done, Arsenal’s January squad would look very menacing.
———–Lacazette—Aubameyang——-
———————–Ziyech————————
Telles—–Torreira—-Xhaka—-Bellerin
Sokratis———Koulibaly/Martinez———Savic
———————–Leno————————
With these squad changes, Arsenal can fight back for a better finish to the season.
Nicholas Oyoo