We now know that Arsene Wenger is going to continue as the manager of the mighty Arsenal as expected. So it is time to have a look at some of the choices Wenger must face over the transfer window. Some of the decisions seem rather straightforward while others require more contemplation.
Signing Sanchez and Ozil up to some new contracts is obvious. This can most likely be achieved by the combination of two pay rises, the promise of a third superstar forward and a genuine title challenge. A top left back was also another vital piece of business that Wenger has rightly, already wrapped up. Sead Kolasinic on a free transfer is an extremely promising signing.
Then things start to get a little more complicated. Popular opinion tells us that we need to upgrade our midfield. This consensus seemed to form after Cazorla, our most important player, was injured for the rest of the season (again). A newly adapting Xhaka was left to carry the burden with several different midfield partners. We couldn’t find the right balance, suffering at both ends. Our season was sent into rapid decline. Conclusions were reached that our midfield needs work.
Our most important moment of the season was the change to five at the back. True width and defensive stability are welcomed improvements. For me though, it is in midfield that we have seen the biggest improvement. All of a sudden the defensive burden has been lifted. There’s more room in the midfield for our box to box players to run into. Our deep lying playmaker has more passing options as he can spread it wide to the onrushing wingbacks more often.
Foreshadowed by their excellent displays at the Euros, we as Arsenal fans had a lot of hope for the Xhaka and Ramsey partnership at the beginning of the season. With the formation change, they lived up to that promise at the end of the season (just ask Kante and Matic!). We must also remember that the partnership of Cazorla and Coquelin is not to be sniffed at. They have produced some incredible performances together and foil each other perfectly in a 4 3 3. Keeping them both at the club would ensure that we have flexibility in our formation when all are fit.
Now comes the case of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Voted second best player of the season, 23 years old and home grown, he is a player that we all want to keep on. If we lose him to a rival such as Liverpool on the cheap, Wenger will be slaughtered by livid Arsenal fans. Yet we as Arsenal fans demand a new midfielder which would no doubt force him out of the club. He himself has already confirmed it, he wants to be the next Gerrard, not a player that plugs gaps or sits on the bench.
I think that the Ox will shine in a box to box role next season with the new formation. That puts him in direct competition with Ramsey, who has his fair share of injuries. He would also be our back up right wing back. This new role, along with a nice pay rise, will surely get him signed up to a long term contract.
Would you buy a shiny new midfield player? Or keep Chamberlain and use the money somewhere else? If so, would you go for a centre back to sit in the middle of the three? Or would you put it all into one of the top strikers in the world?
Beaveraldinho
If cazorla is back no one is better than him even Ozil … Ox use to loose the ball so it is not a good choice in the mid better work his magic in the wing … Can’t rely on Ramsey, one wonder season adn that’s all …
Ozil should be sold and give Sanchez what he gets … Ozil is a luxury buy anyway …
Before you speak about the mid you have to get WC forward (2 if Sanchez does leave) … But who cares as long as The stubborn is here it will be all the same …
Next year either we win the EPL or we go 6th or 7th, I don’t want this 4th spot trophy anymore …
Agree. Arsenal has to improve the midfield department, because I don’t think players like Ozil, Wilshere, Xhaka and Ramsey can help Arsenal dominate the midfield area next season.
The new 3-4-2-1 works at the end of this season, because many teams were surprised. I believe our opponents will be more prepared for the 3-4-2-1 next season.
I think eventually Arsenal will struggle to score next season, because the surprise factor will no longer be there. That would be the time when quality of our players will determine our success.
What needs to happen and obviously won’t now that wrinkly has been given a new contract is a a major major clear out.
Walcott, Ramsey (yes ramsey) Wilshire, BFG Sanogoals and maybe the 9X all need to be replaced with players who are less injury prone, more eager and more likely to put a shift in EVERY game rather than going off the radar when the chips are down.
Won’t happen though the club has been destroyed by Wenger and Kroenke you’ll NEVER see us win anything ever again now it’s a black day when the club is maneuvered by an individual to a point where they can do noth8ng but bow down to what that person wants
Defiantly Arsene AFC now
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR said our heroes Wrighty, Keown, Pires, and Piers.
Who cares anymore just send your cash directly to wenger/kronkie
Just read he theadline. Is the answer because what is really needed is a new manager?
We also need a new cleansed true fans not like as the ones here have promised not to come again if wenger stays like you.
WENGER IN.
This is the last time I will bother replying to you JemButArsenes arse. So listen in.
True fans I guess as you define them follow no matter what
The regime they are following do as they do not question the moralistic or in AFCs case the financial and business strategy in which they base their operations on.
True be will follow as the pied piper leads them into a large and empty chasm. True followers kill themselves in the name of religion, or extreme adaptations of be they terroists or cult followers.
I myself, like to use my ears, eyes and memory and to read between the lines.
So enjoy your victory and your passive and unquestioning slavery to Arsene (not even AFC), because it will end. Even, Maybe sooner than you think.
LOL, the rants of angry missus…twisting it all to serve their hateful agenda, to believe that some deluded uneducated mugs and their disgraceful banners would drive Sir Arsene Wenger out of his football club, so hilarious.
2 MORE YEARS.
KEEP CRYING MOANERS.
BYE, YOU WON’T BE MISSED.
AOT you do realise jembutarsenes is admin , your wasting your time. Some fans are so used to being told what to to in their normal life it becomes a habit not to think for themselves
OI OI! There is only one ADMIN, and don’t you forget it!
Jembut also gets his comments deleted if there is abuse, and if you think calling him Admin is an insult, you could be right lol…
I actually like that one admin
I would never insult anyone by calling them ‘Admin’, out most holy, fair and kind imperious leader.
Can you tell Jembut for me I bet he knows all about having an angry missus!;)
What’s the matter sunshine, have you put super glue on your tongue? What’s embarrassing about withdrawing your support for a club that doesn’t give a care about its fans?.
read the sentence above and tell me your not embarrassed by what you’ve posted. The fact withdrawing your ‘support’ would actually enter you’re head shows you don’t know what ‘supporting’ Arsenal even means, and going on imaginary rants about us will be relegated next season that just show you up to be the childish spoiled brat you come across as.
If you don’t like our Great Leader Sir Arsene that just gave you a new FA trophy that you glory bunter always MOAN, then we the true supporters don’t want you standing next us following The Arsenal.
COYG.
Don’t forget the recordman Arsene Wenger 7 FA cups.
Best in history of the Competition, the one youve been trying to kick out and you FAIL every time, giving me the last laugh..always.
The nutcase fans and slow learners and moaners are the ones hinders the club with toxic environment.
Arsenal totally smashed Chelsea and proved, we’re more than capable of being the best team in the league, that was a masterclass. Nothing Chelsea could do about it, we were that good.
And the guys that aren’t overly enamoured with the news today don’t exactly come across as stable either. Just wish they did what they said and actually pissed off away from the club like they repeatedly say they will.
IN ARSENE WE TRUST.
“Arsenal totally smashed Chelsea and proved, we’re more than capable of being the best team in the league”, 5th in the table and suddenly you are capable of being the best team in the league? the obvious problem with all the AKBs, thinking if you beat the EPL champions then you are better than them, why didn’t you win the league instead? the best team wins the league, guess that’s obvious. Last season Leicester was better than every team, though we beat them twice but they won the league, that’s logic mate! a little bit of brain then you’ll understand
man that guy is ‘out there’!
Said the guy that like @rse more over t!ts, I support Arsenal, players and managers come and go: great players, useless players but if they’re wearing the shirt I will support them. Of course I moan about Giroud’s lack of effort or workrate but if he scores I’m jumping up and down like a little kid.
Come on you Gooners!
Whenever I read your comment, I laugh and remember that God really does have a sense of humor to allow you into this world.
That’s not going to stop me being rationally optimistic about the new season if it looks like we’ve signed a couple of quality players, upgrading Walcott and Giroud in particular.
Someone is a touch too obsessed with Wenger….
We the true fans are talking love for the football club you melon, it says it all that you equate unconditional love for Arsenal as some Wengerism.
WENGER IN.
now I understand, I used to wonder who this annoying guy could be.. hahaha
Please please please instead of all the empty threats about being done with Arsenal or stopping your ‘support’…..please please please just piss off as you give Arsenal fans a bad name and bring embarrassment to the club, and if your a season ticket holder who doesn’t want to be there then give up your ticket and let someone who really wants to go and support the team have the ticket.
Life is too short to moan all the time, find a hobby, an interesting one like milking a cow or whatever.
ONE ARSENE WENGER.
I think we have that guy……Nwakali…….he is good ball winner and passer………a younger version of Kante…….I will not be surprised if he is in the first team next season…..
We always win the last few games and end the league as the best the team then we forget all our shortcomings…now we think we are already the best team in Europe,everyone is singing WENGER IN…no need of signing Ox was a beast haha the cycle of Arsenal fans is funny….wait untill December when the reality hits us again!!!
Nwakali is a forward or wing player, nothing like kante and Ramsey is a squad player for me not first team quality, if Carzola is fit, him and xhaka would be a mouth watering fit but with Arsenals Injurie luck this seems inlikely but i wounder if the five at the back would work if we play a stubborn team that defends, i hope Arsene would change the formation in such games back to 4-2-3-1 but this would require a proper rght wing which we havent had in years, we’ve had OX, Campell, Wallcot, Iwobi, Ramsey, Welbeck and Ozil play in that position and non of them have made it their own like sanchez has with the left wing
Bielik, that’s why
Along with the new 2 years contract renewal, he should be knighted also as…..
SIR ARSENE.
Sir Arse and I would agree ?
To say we DON’T need a new central midfielder is factually wrong, and also means you must have only started watching Arsenal with 10 games to go, when most teams ‘were on the beach’ (as Wenger puts it).
Central midfielders:
Ramsey – OUT Has done nothing to warrant a new contract, often our worst player on the pitch, and has only ever had one good season. He’s in his final year of contract, so has to go.
Santi – IN Our best midfielder by far, can still play a big role, but because of his constant injury problems, it would be too risky to rely on him as guaranteed starter next season.
Wilshere – OUT I think he’s also in his final year of contract, has also done nothing to warrant a new contract, and is never even available! Currently out with yet ANOTHER injury.
Xhaka – IN I’d give him another season to see what he can do. Great end to the season, but poor overall, although I am a fan.
Coquelin – IN Was looking the real deal, but has faded. We need his aggression, and ability to break play up. Can be an important squad player.
Elneny – IN He’s not spectacular, but an okay squad player. The squad will need a lot of rotation what with the Europa League, so squad players are important.
We definitely need a WC central midfielder, and maybe promote a reserve player as well, or use the Ox in that position when needed.
Good list @ThirdManJW I totally agree with you.
But you forgot Ozil. He is a central attacking midfielder. I think he should go too. For a 40 million plus central attacking midfielder, I expect a player with Sanchez’s consistency and performance.
Carzola–Very good but injury prone and ageing
Ramsey–injury prone and inconsistent
Xhaka–Still adapting but makes rash tackles
Le Coq–okay, very committed player.
This is the true position of our midfield. Do we realistically expect that Ox, (who has come alive in the wing-back role) is a solution in this midfield? We need another skillful midfielder in our team. We play over 50games in a season, injuries will occur, fatigue will set in, we’ve all seen it happen in the past. Do we need to wait for it to happen again?
It’s nice how we play out a transfer season in our heads with wishes that we’ll sign 2 or three good guys here and there, Then proceed to even envision our perfect formation with those players..
That’s all nice and sweet but the crushing reality is, We happen to have one of the most stubborn and arrogant managers in the world, Who has proved time and time again, He doesn’t give a sod about what the fans wish for. Not because his methods are necessarily working and we’re wrong, But No! Just because..
Sub-par signings most of the time
Has favorites
Tactics that only change once in a decade..
And just incase you don’t agree with his methods and happen to speak out?
you’re being negative and the reason we didn’t win the the league!
Yes.. That guy!
and we just rewarded him with an extra 2 years of our life to waste.
nicely rounded up fella!
anyone remember ‘Budd’ with the Arsene Wenger picture as his gravatar? He was a devout wenger supporter and EVEN he gave up trying to convince people that AW was making the right decisions.
He Disappeared from this site because even for him, it was no longer possible to defend the decisions, performance and actions of the man, no matter how much he had previously achieved for the club.
yawn………
Yeah, miss budd…perhaps he is back as another name but he did bring a modacombe of sense to the site…
Also ny gunner with his pro wenger views…maybe he is back too eh jembut dude ?
In response to the article, as everybody seems to have come off subject:
Our midfield is too injury prone ! Cazorla, willshire, ox, ramsey have all seemed to have spent more time in the treatment room over the years so yes please mr wenger …ship out the casualties and bring in cavarlho before newcastle of all teams nab him and isco for when ozil is sold.
Come on, take a wild guess.
Oh i forgot …and please mr wenger start blooding some of our young talent more…give them a chance to shine, after all what is the academy really for ? we need squad quantity and depth with europa cup and keep star squad fit and able to concentrate on league and give bench sitters run outs in cup games.
Just my personal thoughts mr wenger sir.
Guy, must Arsene see the need to answer every question asked? Is there something in his contract that says he must give an answer to every question?
I think our football is still pretty good to watch and has the potential to be vintage.
The fact that our football remained good, if ultimately unsuccessful, throughout the times we couldn’t afford to lose Ozil and Sanchez allows me to respect Arsene even more.
You’re about as useful as Anne Frank’s drum kit. I’m not saying your stupid, I’m just saying you have little luck when it comes to thinking.
Not a surprise you ain’t getting this whole football and the youth policy was a failed project thing with your limited brain power. If that belligerence makes you uncomfortable its only due to the crudeness.
ARSENE KNOWS BEST.
Just making a personal statement dude..not asking any questions…just giving food for thought…stirring debate…not resorting to personal insults.
Will not succumb to your petty childish way of winding people up.
Got better things to do thats why im not on here a lot….like running my international buisnesses and checking over my maserati collection…maybe have more thinking power than you give me credit for dude and as for brain power…go figure !