How many signings do we realistically need to play competitively in Europe again?
With our sights finally set on Europe again (top four/six) Arsenal clearly lack a lot of squad depth. How many January and Summer signings are needed?
In my opinion we are still miles off of the squad depth of the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. We need a very expensive few windows to bolster the squad in every department to make a competitive whole squad rather than just a competitive starting first 11.
STRIKER
The most obvious place to start is sorting out our striker situation, Nketiah doesn’t seem to want to sign a new contract and may not hit the levels of the premier league. Laca and Auba are old and look likely to leave after their contracts end. Balogun is on loan.
But the Burnley games showed we really need a 15+ goal a season striker if we want to get anywhere near top four.
The obvious is a huge signing potential Vlahovic who doesn’t seem to be interested in any English club, why pay £70 million on a man who doesn’t want to be there, I wish we could make it happen but I’m doubtful.
So, who else is there? Calvert-Lewin or Isak? Both very exciting young talents that could do well for the gunners adding to the English core or adding some Spanish flair.
MIDFIELDER
We are crying out for another holding midfielder, Lakonga is promising but inexperienced, Partey is key in midfield but needs a consistent partner and Xhaka… well he’s just… Xhaka.
With the loan of 25-year-old Arthur Melo looking like a great short-term solution, do we finally give Guendouzi a chance if Marseille don’t buy him after his successful loan and France national team call up?
Tielemans would be quality, I’m a big fan of his and I think he would be a perfect role model for Lakonga but I don’t believe Leicester would sell to any Prem club.
Renato Sanches could be a great addition too, a complete midfielder who would be free to leave in summer with just a 12-month contract as well and therefore a much cheaper option.
DEFENDERS
I also think we need a backup right back for Tomiyasu, someone who will be reliable for our FA cup and EFL games, Cedric doesn’t seem good enough in my opinion.
Lamptey would be my dream signing, he is young, fast, exciting and has an already established a great relationship with Ben White at Brighton so would slot into the defensive line-up brilliantly.
Not only to mention he adds to that English core.
Saliba will be a fantastic addition for the defence next season now that Arteta has confirmed he will play for Arsenal (finally), it will give Gabriel and White important rotation and rest over the season. Plus, White can always cover effectively at right back.
KEEPER
If Leno is happy as number two, we are fine in the goal keeper’s department, but I feel that he won’t be and Ramsdale is simply too good to drop.
Matt Turner is the rumoured replacement, a 27-year-old keeper in the MLS who has quality penalties save record (9/20) and could be a smart squad player for Arteta’s side.
All in all, its going to be an expensive summer window, I don’t see us making many signings in a week, so summer will be crucial for Arteta to make a competitive squad. He’s got rid of the deadwood, now time to bulk up the team.
PREDICTIONs
GK – Turner (£5 million)
RB – Lamptey (£20 million)
CM – Arthur Melo (Loan)
CM – Sanchez (£35 million
ST – Isak (£40 million)
Until next time Gooners,
Benedict
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley Arteta Post Match Press Conference – “We didn’t have the quality”
Aurelien Tchouameni for DM
De Jong/Tielemans for CM
Several striking options
Back up RB
Seriously, Aurelien is probably the best DM since Kante, although IMO he’s even better. That kid is just immense.
This should be a topic after we qualify for Europe. Let’s not count our eggs before hatching.
Mind you, Not just Europe, TOP 4 is the only goal of Arteta for him to remain in Arsenal, if NOT, He and Edu should just shamefully leave.
No funds should be trusted in their care unless we make Champions League qualification.
New manager: Mancini, Ten Haag, Rodgers, Gasperini, Potter in order of preference.
Backup GK: Turner
” ” RB: Spence
CB: Saliba and Dinos return🙏
DM: Bissouma or Guimaraes
CM: Bring back Matteo
LW: Saint Maximim
ST: David
Offer Laca a 2 Year extension on reduced wages and Balogun returns as third choice striker.
I think we’d also need a proper left-sided winger. I know Martinelli and Smith-Rowe are currently covering that position, but I think their best belong in other positions.
Again, the expected outlay may not be as frightening as it appears if you factor in expected inflows from the sale of the likes of Leno, Torreira, Guendouzi, Bellerin……
Ndidí and darwin nunez of benfica
Been away a while, missed our last two games. Hopefully we get back to winning ways when football resumes.
Regarding our transfer: Those saying “Edu and Arteta wasted time chasing Vlahovic” just want to lie to themselves.
Good job to Edu for trying a least to try and convince the player. He di all he could.
Multiple reliable journalists revealed the club went all out for Vlahovic but he had other plans.
Fair play to Edu for holding on thinking he could convince the player, seeing how important the player could’ve been to our growth.
This actually speaks volumes about the player himself than any other thing, and I’m glad we dodged that bullet even though I’d have like him.
You know how terrible you have to be as a sportsman alongside your agent to refuse communicating with the club you play for and pays your salary? More shameful that the director of your club has to constantly come out saying you ain’t responding to them or saying anything just because you want to sign for an opponent?
He might be good as a player, but I’m not sure that type of character would’ve made sense with us. Agent ignoring calls from parent clubs, from other clubs trying to negotiate, from journalists and all that.
Sky’s Kaveh was only saying yesterday how he texted the agent to get an I do about the player, and the agent read and ignored his message. He said he wasn’t even surprised, knowing they refused to speak to even their parent club.
That’s a terrible way to behave. Imagine we got him and we’re trying to order him a new contract in three years time?
The only reason I’m not complaining or agreeing with the statement that we wasted time chasing him was because it was ambitious, plus the club had Plan B and C lined up in Isak and DCL.
Now if they were certain they could always fall to plan B after trying so hard for plan A, then I have nothing against them. Fair play for trying and giving your all for the best.
Now it’s time to show if they really have balls to complete the deal for plan B or C.
There’s still a few days left to make a deal.
If they can bring Isak in or DCL, then they shouldn’t be tagged as clueless.
I’ll wait till the window closes before making these statements
The Fiorentina was actually the player Arsenal should have bought. He could have made a huge difference. Top quality strikers is what Arsenal needs.
I quite agree with you, I read so many times that Vlahovic’s is afraid of his agents,
My concern now is Vlahovic price might have an influence on our plan B and C,
We also need a strong midfielder , not Melo, one like Renato/Guimaeres.
I just hope Edu and Arteta would wow 😮 before the transfer window closes.
During the last 15-16 years, Arsenal has been negotiating with some of the best players to join the team but ended up joining other teams. Is this due to lack of negotiating skills, funds or real commitments?
ST: Ole Watkins AND Jonathan David
(Jovic loan back Up)
Mid: Frankie De Jong, Bruno Gumaries
DM: Ndidi (Ginny Back up)
Defenders: Dinos And Saliba Return
RB: Lamptey, Spence Cheaper Option
Back Up GK: Johnstone
Coach: Ten Hag
TD: Overmars
I think in cm we need either a Frenkie/Tielemans/Dahoud type player to replace Xhaka. As we’ve seen, we need an extra senior player as I dont think Lokonga is up for it. I would also like to go for Bruno G. That we we would have 3 senior players competing for 2 starting spots. We would also have different type of cm’s.
We need a backup for Tomi as well. Lamptey being the obvious choice there. He offers a different option than Tomi, which is very important IMO. Havent seen enough of Spence, but he was really good against us.
Attack is a bit more difficult. I dont think Isak is prolific enough. Same goes for David, although I like him a lot and he could also play on the left. My choice would be Schick. Still young, lots of experience, prolific and decent hold-up play. Probably not that expensive either.
My buys:
Schick, David (if Auba and Laca leave), Frenkie/Tielemans, Bruno G, Lamptey, Inacio (from Sporting) and a new backup goalie if Leno leaves
Outs:
Auba, Nketiah, Laca, Xhaka, Elneny, Cedric, Chambers, AMN, Torreria, Guendouzi, Dinos, Leno
I like the way you dressed our incompetence and unseriousness.
The player made it clear he wants Juve from the onset yet we wasted our time on him you are here panting because he did what most players do to actualize their dream. If we are any serious about getting any striker we should have moved on instead of making ourselves subject of ridicule. This is the second time Juventus beat us to a player without submitting a bid for him. We are not a serious club anymore and the good players are getting to know that.
This is a reply to Eddie
And I like the way you dressed your tomfoolery and gullibility. “The player made it clear he wanted Juventus,” guess who made it clear he wanted Real Madrid? Auba did before we got him.
I am certain there are tons of footballers that needed to be convinced.
There are tons of ex players that mentioned they needed to be convinced to join the club and they got convinced after speaking to Wenger.
While there are others that soon as they heard it, needed no convincing and they told their agent to seal the deal.
Tomiyasu made it clear soon as he heard the name he was ready, and there’s Gabriel who just before joining us last season kept Arsenal waiting on his decision because he wanted time to make the right choice, or you want to pretend we didn’t have to wait for Gabriel to make a decision between us, United and Napoli?
You really thought this is FIFA or Football Manager that you can just throw in a bid and everything goes smooth.
Regardless if we are Arsenal or not, there will be players that’ll need convincing.
I’ll give you an example, if Arsenal could get any quality player after having to wait and convincing them, would you walk away?
You think because we are Arsenal, we can just go bid for certain players and we won’t have to work to get the deal done?
Arsenal lined up a priority signing, had plan B lined up, and tried their all in going for their priority signing.
Whose agent wasn’t picking anybody’s call, not even that of his own club’s director, and you thought Arsenal were incompetent for really trying to get through to the player when they know they could fall back to plan B or plan C.
Once again, just like you like mine, I like how you hide your tomfoolery 👍🏼
I think its idiotic to keep pursuing a player who’s representatives haven’t, apparently, answered once since our interest .
Actively pursuing since October, not a single indicator from player wants to move, why do we spent 70% of the window chasing lost cause? Kudos for trying to change players mind but too much is too much, this whole case was just a farce.
I guarantee we’ll go panic mode now and spend that same 60-70 million DCL, Isak or de Tomas, again getting fleeced.
Not sure I’ll call it panic mode TBH, Vlahovic was never worth that amount too.
These players, they’re all just with potentials. No one can guarantee which will be a success in the EPL.
I could’ve swore I’ve read a few posters on here mentioned how we’ll be paying too much for Vlahovic of we pay that amount.
Wenger predicted all of this money ruining football thing years ago. The man was right, these days none of these players are actually worth the fee they get paid for except you’re Messi, Mbappe or Haaland.
Grealish, Jào Felix, Demebele, Be White, Pepe, Maguire, Pogba, Griezmann, all of them got overpaid for.
I’ll rather we pay that money for Isak than DCL though.
Isak brings so much more other than scoring, and can create his own chances by dribbling. He’s very good in 1v1 against defenders, sometimes he beats 2 defenders easily..I know his numbers ain’t all sunshine, but I’ll love to see him get his chance playing with Saka,ESR, Martinelli, Ødegaard..
Imagine a front three of players that can all beat their man? Even beat two defenders.
Now regarding wasting of time by Edu that’s right, like I said in my first post, there’s still a couple of days left. If he gets any of the remaining two targets, then you can’t say he failed this January, and that’s why I said I’ll reserve my judgement till after the windows shut. See what he comes up with, before you say if he’s been foolish throughout January if he did good. He did well pushiu fr his target, but now that he can’t get it. What he does next will be what you judge him with
You’re right. Theres still time.
As an Arsenal fan I’m just absolutely terrified of the whole phrase “theres still time”, remembering all the times we urgently needed a player on certain position and Wenger never brought anyone!
Who in their right mind wants Europe next year with this reed thin squad?
Not I for one, just win a Cup and get top 4 or higher.
What a waste of time of resources, everyone’s!
👍 Agree Aaron. Unfortunately Arsenal is out of both cups, showing the squad was too thin to compete in 3 completions. Without major strengthening by recalling loan players and upgrades in midfield and strikers, Arsenal would be murdered in Europe.
Not sure I’ll call it panic mode TBH, Vlahovic was never worth that amount too.
These players, they’re all just with potentials. No one can guarantee which will be a success in the EPL.
I could’ve swore I’ve read a few posters on here mentioned how we’ll be paying too much for Vlahovic of we pay that amount.
Wenger predicted all of this money ruining football thing years ago. The man was right, these days none of these players are actually worth the fee they get paid for except you’re Messi, Mbappe or Haaland.
Grealish, Jào Felix, Demebele, Be White, Pepe, Maguire, Pogba, Griezmann, all of them got overpaid for.
I’ll rather we pay that money for Isak than DCL though.
Isak brings so much more other than scoring, and can create his own chances by dribbling. He’s very good in 1v1 against defenders, sometimes he beats 2 defenders easily..I know his numbers ain’t all sunshine, but I’ll love to see him get his chance playing with Saka,ESR, Martinelli, Ødegaard..
Imagine a front three of players that can all beat their man? Even beat two defenders.
Now regarding wasting of time by Edu that’s right, like I said in my first post, there’s still a couple of days left. If he gets any of the remaining two targets, then you can’t say he failed this January, and that’s why I said I’ll reserve my judgement till after the windows shut. See what he comes up with, before you say if he’s been foolish throughout Januy of he did good.
cant even put messi on that list anymore either 😫
Anyone but Melo.
OT:
News just in: Wiggy decides to give MA a lucrative 2 year offer. In return Wiggy orders MA to shut up with transfer money demands. MA signs the contract. We are doomed!
If you have followed the EP league for the last 22 years, Chelsey and Manchester City were ordinary teams that could not make it in the top 4. New investors came and invested in the team by buying quality players. Today the two teams are Europe s’ top teams. Arsenal must invest in the team.
We need BRUNO GUIMARAES now. A striker is imperative too. Next season bring William Saliba and Matteo Guendouzi back even if that means ditching Arteta.
Going to Newcastle United.
Lyon have released a statement denying that any agreement had been reached.one thing is certain, Newcastle have put a bid in of 30M£.
Simple arteta needs to swallow abit of pride & make sure Matteo & Saliba are here next season
we’ll need to see how jan ends before the final judgement. fair to say its been disappointing so far. I never believed for a second Vlahovic would happen, and i’ve still never seen him kick a ball like 90% of the ppl on this forum, so I dont really give a hoot about him not coming over here. Always a decent chance a Serie A striker is all just hot air anyways. On a personal note I would love it if we landed DCL, but not likely Everton will sell given how awful they are this season and are just barley not in a relegation fight. Isak does not convince me and i hope we stay away. I would settle for a Luka Jovic loan, and reassess everything in the summer, and hopefully there will be somebody available. CM, we 100% need a signing. Tired of the Xhaka NONSENSE. Please get a respectable player to play next to Partey. If we got Jovic on loan, and a new CM, we would stand a chance at top 4. I dont think i have to tell anyone that at the moment we are NOT on course for top 4. That is quite obvious to anyone who has wathced us this month.
This has nothing to do with reality. We need three big signings what else is new. At the moment we can’t even cover for a major hole in the midfield. Hopeless management. Everything else is pie in the sky wet dreaming again
Well the truth is we are managed by MR BEAN. How come nobody knew that AFCON, injuries, covid, cards and a dearth of midfield players could decimate us……actually…..negligence. Edu/Arteta knew. How come we looked against Liverpool exactly how we looked against Villareal…..we spluttered in front of Liverpool. Two years of dullard football. How come we were toothless against the bottom team in the league and the worst Burnley side I have seen. Arteta/Edu. I cannot understand a pair who did not trouble shoot what they knew would happen in January. On January the 1st we should have had players. Now it’s au revoir FA Cup and League Cup….and on the 26-1-2022 we still do not have any new players. We are a club run by DULLARDS. Season gone…..once again. Arghhh.
Surely we will be in Europe by the end of the season, what we don’t know is if it’s Champions league or Europa league.
Now down to our needs
Keeper : I feel Leno wants the move because of World Cup coming soon, so
we can get another keeper, I don’t know about Matt Turner but from YouTube videos he is good at saves but how about his kicking?.
Defense: Many have forgotten we have Hector Bellerin on loan @RealBetis, so I don’t see any need of getting a new RB, so I feel we need to sell Cedric and Chambers bring back HB to compete with Tomi. Center Back we should call back Saliba to compete with White, Gabriel and Holding and if they are been rotated well throughout the season there will be no cause for alarm, besides Tomi can also play CB. We should sell Mari, Mavropanos
Midfield: I feel Xhaka and Elneny should leave and create space for new signings, we should sign Zakaria BM in this transfer window, he has just 6months on his contract, we should also look at Bruno Guimareas (Lyon), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), and Yuri Tielemans (Leicester). I know the options are much in the midfield but we should not repeat same mistake we made this season with regards to AFCON players that won’t be available. My final choice would be to get Zakaria, Merino and Tielemans to partner with Partey and Lokonga for the position of 2man midfield or occasionally a 3man midfield base. Sell Guendouzi, torreria to get some of those players mentioned.
Attack: PEA, Lacazatte and Nkethia would be off Maximum by Summer so we should be thinking of getting a clinical goalscorer in this window and by Summer a backup striker too. Options available now are Dusan Vlahovic (florentina) although seems unlikely, DCL, Isak (this guy ain’t prolific for the expected release clause to be paid. I would prefer we get a tall CF that’s good on the air, with his back to goal, a good place on him and a lethal finisher, I think that’s why we were all in for Vlahovic. Right now I feel we should be looking at Scammacca of Sassuolo, similar qualities with Vlahovic but right footed, I feel he should be affordable for us right now. Also we can get Arthur Cabral from Basel as a backup striker if neither doesn’t go through. Also we should be looking at Saint Maximin if Newcastle goes down, he would add more depth to our wing play.
Apologies for the long write up🙌