For the last few years there has been the feeling that Arsenal did not have enough top quality players to really compete with the big clubs at the top level in the Premier League and Champions League. That was obviously not helped by the financial situation which forced Arsene Wenger to work with a shoestring budget and also to sell the best players at the club.
But over the last year or so, ever since the Frenchman surprised us all by smashing the club transfer record to sign Mesut Ozil, those financial problems seem to have been on the wane. But the football media and pundits on TV soon found another stick to beat the Gunners with. This time it was the question of whether our squad had the strength in depth to succeed.
Oh how they loved it when our title challenge faltered last season and the likes of Michael Owen gleefully pronounced that they had been proved right. Well yes, but there was the small matter of our massive ongoing injury list to consider although no one seemed to keen to do that.
We have had the same problem this season and I think that is why we are too far away to challenge Chelsea this year, but our England international left back Kieran Gibbs is adamant that Arsenal do now have enough quality and depth in our squad to fight on all three fronts, as a Sky Sports report reveals.
Gibbs said, “It is probably the first time it has been like this for a while.
“It has been easier (to get selected) in the past. Now, when you keep everyone fit for a while, obviously you can only fit 11 men on the pitch.
“We need a big squad and we certainly have the squad to compete on three fronts at the moment.
“And we are hungry to defend the (FA Cup) trophy. We are not just going to think that, because we won it last year, it is not in our priorities, because all three competitions are.”
THere does seem to be a lot better and stronger competition for places in the Arsenal team now and Gibbs’ own battle with Nacho Monreal is a prime example.
He continued, “I have to be patient before I play and just take my opportunities.
“We spoke the other week and the boss just said that, since I came back from my injury, Nacho (Monreal) has done well and given me a good challenge.
“He wants me to stay focused and, the more both of us are on the top of our games, the better it is for the team.”
So with Gabriel now competing at centre back, Bellerin and Chambers covering for Debuchy, Coquelin impressing in Arteta’s absence, Ozil and Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere and then all the strikers, have Arsenal put our recent deficiencies behind us?
We still need a player for DM and CB, preferably one that can fill in at both like Chambers, who (imo) isn’t fully ready yet to play in a new centre back pairing with (likely) Gabriel. Would be nice to add a quality defender from a medior age like 25-27 to fill the gap when Mertesacker leaves. If we sign Schneiderlin in the summer our squad will be more than ready to take up the title challenge in ’15/’16 though!!
You forgot to mention kieran that we need, a quality DM to add some steel! Likeable candidates schneiderlin or kondogbia! Coyg!
Yeah I think we can all agree that the only thing we really need is some physical presence in the middle of the park.. I would say Schneiderlin or William Carvalho as I believe he is also capable of filling in at CB.. Really hope Akpom continues to get games into next season I really believe this boy can be our main striker for years to come. I’m actually going to put a cheeky bet on him breaking Thierry Henry’s goal record. But yeah, Schneiderlin or Carvalho for me.
An excellent DM and top Striker is all that is needed To compete for 1st place.
If we just want to compete for 4th place next season, we have enough quality and depth.
I still think we need a striker.
I know Giroud has improved but it is difficult to erase the memories of the row Z mis-hits and the chances squandered.
Akpom needs playing time with Arsenal, or a loan to improve, 8 minutes at the end of a game won’t help him develop.
Big Welbeck has a lot in his arsenal but I feel he hasn’t put it together yet, he makes great runs but the end product lacks conviction.
Why can’t Henry spend some time with him as striking coach when he is at the ground doing his badges?
Some instruction from the master, on how to control the ball at the end of a run for those trademark Henry chips would transform the big man.
yes
i know it was only Boro but it looked like gibbs, flamini, ozil didn’t want to give up their spot in the starting 11. Wenger should do this with ramsey and wilshere to get the best out of them.
In the ideal world, we bring in 4 world class players and add a couple promising youngsters. We haven’t won the EPL in how many years? We have the $ to bring in world class so now or never for Wegner. Adding 4 world class players means 100M for this summer.
ST – ??? 35M
DM – Lars Bender 25M
CB – Hummels 30M
GK – Cech 15M
Starters
Sanchez-???-Walcott
Ozil-Ramsey-Bender
Gibbs-Hummels-Kos-Debuchy
Cech
2nd string
Welbeck-Giroud-Ox
Cazrola-Wilshere-Coquelin
Monreal-Per-Gab-Bellerin
Szezesny
Loan out:
– Bielik
– Chambers
– Akpom
– Gnarby
Sell:
– Arteta
– Jenkinson
– Ospina
Release:
– Diaby
– Flamini
Paulo Dybala
I think Gibbs is right to assert the way he did. Obviously everybody will not agree with him because some people will never be contented until they see those players that please their fancy at Arsenal. Each of us has players we wish to see playing for Arsenal but this will never happen because Arsenal has a big fan base which can’t all be satisfied! What Gibbs raised is a very pertinent issue. Where do we still need reinforcement as a team? Much as we can never be 100% satisfied with our team I feel we are now in the region of over 90%. There are issues like injuries which none of us can do anything about but that aside the team is well constituted and has the capacity to compete on all fronts. There will never be an end to reinforcement but this will be for additional quality rather than dire need. All factors being equal Arsenal is now well equipped to stand up to the best. Our test will come in the remaining EPL games, CL and the FA game against our arch rivals Man U which has now become our bogey team as well. If we come on top of these tests I believe the doubting ‘Thomases’ will be silenced.