I am going out on a limb here and assuming that Arsene Wenger will now accept that some of the current Arsenal squad are not good enough, and to have any chance of winning the Premier League title next year he will have to add some real top quality players in the summer transfer window. We all fear, though, that the Frenchman will not agree.
But if he does, then the recent dropping of Per Mertesacker, combined with the fact that the German is now into his 30s, could point to the fact that a centre back will be near the top of Wenger’s transfer wish list. For me there are two stand out contenders for us to sign and we all know that Arsenal have got a lot of money to spend, just not whether the boss will actually use it.
Wenger clearly favours a centre back that is composed on the ball and possesses good technical ability as well as strong defensive skills and that is why I think either Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund or John Stones of Everton would fit the bill, but which would be the better option.
Hummels obviously has more experience and at a higher level having played almost 50 European club games and with about the same number of full international caps and two major tournaments to his name with Germany. On the other hand he would be harder to get, you feel, and with Guardiola going to Man City I can see Hummels signing for them.
Stones I feel would be possible to get for the Gunners, even though Chelsea are reported to be ready to try again, after failing in the last two transfer windows. Chelsea look like missing out on Europe altogether though and that should be a factor in the player’s decision.
Despite his inexperience, Stones could well turn out to be a fantastic player next season and could end up as one of the best in the world, so should Wenger do everything he can to make sure Stones fulfils his potential with Arsenal?