Arsenal need to win away to Liverpool later today in order to go level on points with Southampton after Ronald Koeman’s team cruised to a 3-0 win over Everton yesterday. THat ended a dreadful run for the Saints but hopefully Arsenal will still be able to overtake them before we meet at St. Mary’s on New Years Day.
And once we have beaten them on their own ground (hopefully) then I think that Arsene Wenger needs to bang in an offer for their France international midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin. And I think it is important to try to get the transfer done early if possible for a couple of very good reasons.
Many of the defensive midfielders we have been linked with in various Arsenal transfer rumours, such as Sami Khedira and William Carvalho, will not be able to help the Gunners go further in the Champions League as they would be cup-tied, but Schneiderlin would not. And the same could be true of our defence of the FA cup, as long as he has not already featured for Southampton.
They face Ipswich Town in the cup on the 4th of January and although it is tight, that gives Wenger four days of the transfer window to seal the deal. And obviously we could do with the extra strength in midfield as soon as possible, with Stoke at home and then Man City away after our first FA cup game.
I also think that an early move could help us persuade the Saints to sell, as it gives them more time to use the money to sign a replacement or two, rather than leaving it to the last minute and making them determined not to lose one of their main men.
But do you think Wenger will leave it late as usual?