It’s fascinating to watch the sea change currently occurring behind closed doors at the Emirates. There’s every chance that the team we’ll see representing Arsenal football club next season will be a markedly different one from the one we’ve seen this season. Brazilian midfielder Denilson has spoken openly about his desire to leave, Nicklas Bendtner’s dad has hinted that his son won’t be an Arsenal player next season and now Gael Clichy looks set to join Barcelona, Inter Milan or Bayern Munich.
Though I’ve been a big fan of Gael Clichy and his attacking-minded play, I do confess that he seemed to peak early as a player and has been steadily declining as a footballer over the past couple of seasons. He works hard, gets up and down the flank quickly and can tackle when he puts his mind to it.
There are, however, a number of limitations to his play. For a start, he can’t cross which often means that his offensive forays come to nothing. He has a tendency to switch off at the back and start ball-watching which has cost Arsenal in the past. What’s more, he’s completely incapable of heading the ball and as such lacks a vital defensive tool.
So how do Arsenal go about replacing the latest Frenchman to hit the exit? Before answering that, it’s important to assess whether the Gunners even need to replace Clichy.
Kieran Gibbs has Premier League, Champions League and (limited) International experience. What would happen if he were given the full backing of the manager and the fans? Is he ready for the role of number one left back at the club? From what I’ve seen though this young Englishman has a big future ahead of him, I just don’t think he’s ready the big time yet. Let’s not forget that he’s injury-prone and would represent a gamble for the Gunners if he were to be their first choice left-back next season.
I hope that opportunities are given to him next season in the Carling Cup and early stages of the FA Cup, but when he does gain a starting berth in this Arsenal side it ought to be given to him because he’s forced the manager’s hand with his performances on the pitch, not because another player’s exit made him the default choice.
Then there’s Armand Traore who the Gunners loaned out to Juventus this year. He’s quick, can tackle and has slightly better positional sense than Gael Clichy. But he also can’t cross or head the ball and has a tendency to lose possession too easily. Whilst he has pace and can get up and down the flanks in a timely fashion, defensively he’s a little lacking and shoring up the Gunner’s defence will be Arsene Wenger’s priority this summer.
With Gael Clichy seemingly on his way out and neither Gibbs nor Traore ready to make the step up, if Arsenal want to compete for silverware next season, they’ll have to spend money on a new left-back. Just who to spend the cash on is another matter entirely.
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You say traore can’t cross!?!?!? He’s better than gibbs and 10x better than clichy at crossing. Personally I think he has just as much potential as gibbs, which is significant, but whether either of these two will be ready to start for arsenal next season is another question. Having seen nothing of armand this year, I really can’t comment. Gibbs was great last season but very poor this. With his injury record, I don’t think he can be considered a reliable option.
But we also have pedro botelho to join the 1st team squad, who is also a talented player, but he, by many accounts at least, is more of an attacker, perhaps even better suited to the left wing position.
Finally there is the apparent new signing jenkinson, who I have only seen a little bit of – and he does look good.
We can only speculate whether any of these 4 are good enough at this point, or whether vermaelen can be effective there, or whether a new signing is the only viable option.
you are forgetting pedro botelho
Would be Delighted if we got rid of him! He has been poor ever since being named in team of the year in 2008 i think it was! He shud be sold and use money on top class centre half! I think in an ideal world we wud also get a top class left back to replace Clichy fully but we have other departments that need more attention as traore and Gibbs Will be Enough to Cover Clichys Departure!
I want Arsenal to be well equipped with quality players thanks.
baines may be the anwser he can cross the ball good defends and getting down th flanks plus gd freekicks and pens and english