After an abysmal second-half performance against Fulham on Monday, I think most Arsenal fans, if they hadn’t already, have come round to the fact that their club still needs a couple of ‘big’ signings. Whilst a top four finish is still a possibility, the Gunners look a long way away from the top two-three teams in the country and need a couple of special players to help guide them over the course of the next few seasons. This will necessitate Arsene Wenger getting out his chequebook – something he has always been notoriously unwilling to do.
With Wilshere set to return, there’s no real pressing need for a big money signing in the centre of midfield, but if the right option presents itself and the likes of Mario Goetze signify some interest, then fans are unlikely to complain.
The most pressing issue, however, seems to me to be locating a strike partner for Robin Van Persie and a man who can replace Arshavin (who’s time at the club is probably up) and Gervinho (who will be away for a minimum of two months during the African Cup of Nations).
The two main candidates who keep coming up again and again are Lille’s Eden Hazard and Cologne’s Lukas Podolski. Of those two players it’s clear that Podolski is more likely to join the Gunners, but I wouldn’t suggest Arsenal fans get their hopes up too much.
Hazard is Lille’s biggest star and they won’t want to let him go on the cheap. It would take a bid of over £35m to secure his services and Arsenal would have to smash their transfer record. What’s more, given the fact that Lille feel Arsenal stiffed them when they signed Park Chu-Young (who up until now has been a rather lousy signing) they may well be unwilling to do business.
Lukas Podolski on the other hand has spoken of his dissatisfaction of his position at FC Koln. He has also mentioned that he wouldn’t mind a move to the Premier League. With his Cologne contract running down, he wouldn’t be too costly – perhaps around the £15m mark, and would represent the kind of bargain Wenger loves.
If Arsene does want Podolski at the club he’s likely to face competition from other Premier League teams like Chelsea and Liverpool who both need a new striker. This may well drive up Podolski’s price, but wouldn’t it be a price worth paying?
What’s your take? With Wenger unlikely to splash out who would you like to see join the club?
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Podlski is ideal 4 arsenal….bt 1 wonders wat formation wenger chooses to occupy two wrld class strikers argubaly the best in d buisness…ny suggestions?…sagna vermealn mertsie gibbs..song arteta…ox wilshere podolski…rvp….wow!!!!can’t wait go gunners!!!!
All gooner fans know that if Wenger doesn’t bring in a striker and only Henry is the only Arsenal buy, he can forget about challenging for the epl next sesason.Btw wc kids take at lkeast two years or more to show their level?What happens if they are not up to the mark?
The kid purchase policy has not worked the last five years so is there any guarantee it will work in the future?It will be time wasted.
Wenger is turning the third richest club like his own.His reluctance to buy the best is what is galling to most fans. If the gunners cant get the gunners firing again,he should go where a club will let him play his tippy tappy soccer with one thousand passes before shooting.
All gooner fans know that if Wenger doesn’t bring in a striker and only Henry is the only Arsenal buy, he can forget about challenging for the epl next sesason.Btw wc kids take at lkeast two years or more to show their level?What happens if they are not up to the mark?
The kid purchase policy has not worked the last five years so is there any guarantee it will work in the future?It will be time wasted.
Wenger is turning the third richest club like his own.His reluctance to buy the best is what is galling to most fans. If the gunners cant get the gunners firing again,he should go where a club will let him play his tippy tappy soccer with one thousand passes before shooting.
Wenger should by now realize that he needs to buy some players and stop deceiving himself. Fulham have exposed the kind of team wenger have, he should change his approach and tactics and stop blaming the referee. For the past 3 season we have been conceding goals in the dying minutes of matches and up to now he could not find solution. The reason is not far from signing inexperience players and cheap players. Wenger should know that when his team become invicible, he didn’t with the kind of players he is presently signing. When you look at their quality in the defense and attack you get intimidated. Check out Gilberto and Viera in the midfield, their physique and skill intimidate opponents, not the kind of dwarf he has in the midfield coupled with inconsistent attack and goalkeeper. Wenger please you have money, sign good players please,please,please, please. You don’t have a team