Whilst most Arsenal fans will be waiting to hear news of a brand new forward signing, this won’t be Arsene Wenger’s only area of priority this summer.
Whilst the Gunners look woefully undermanned going forward, with the likes of Olivier Giroud and Gervinho failing to impress, let’s not forget that Arsenal’s defense has also been the subject of a lot of criticism.
Yes, the Gunners managed to fix things in the final ten games, but it strikes me that there is still an issue with the back-four. In particular, Arsenal need to take a look at their right-back berth.
Bacary Sagna was once the Premier League’s most consistent right-backs. He made the Premier League’s Team of the Year on a couple of occasions and was probably one of the best full-backs in Europe.
Two leg-breaks later (that’s seriously bad luck) and Sagna’s career is unraveling. He’s lost all his pace, his crosses don’t have a lot of zip and he’s let defensive errors creep into his game.
Just look at his double slip-up against Manchester United towards the end of the season. Not only did he let Robin Van Persie in on goal, his mistimed ‘recovery’ tackle gave away a penalty which the Dutchman gleefully tucked away.
We’re just not used to seeing this level of carelessness from ‘the Bac’ and it’s caused a good deal of worry among Arsenal fans. At 30-years-old, there’s little chance of him getting any better. A lot of different sources are suggesting that Arsene Wenger is on the look-out for a replacement.
The Star even claim that Arsene Wenger went to watch Borussia Dortmund (who trained at the Gunners’ grounds last Saturday prior to their Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich) and had his eye trained on their right-back, Lukasz Piszczek.
The 27-year-old Polish International is one of the best full-backs in the Bundesliga. He’s made 129 appearances for Dortmund and has impressed with his pace, offensive support and defensive ability. Unfortunately, he may be undergoing a hip operation this summer that will sideline him for five months.
This will mean he won’t be available until around January for first-team action. But if I were Arsene, I wouldn’t let this stop me. Arsenal have enough in reserve (with Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson) to hold the fort until he’s ready. His injury may even lower his price-tag.
He’s currently valued at £12m. If Arsene can barter Dortmund down and secure a bargain, this could be a great move for the club.
What’s your take? Should the Gunners be in the market for this banjaxed Dortmund star?
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Guiroud has been a success. Why do you lot put him down.
First you complain that we are a one man team, then we get 4 players sharing the goal scoring duties you complain that they aren’t van the man. I think poldoski, guiroud ,Walcott and cazorla have been a successful combination and is why we were third top scorers in the premier league.
that’s true man, Giroud has been succes in he’s first year in EPL , but we need some one to help him, i’m sure next saison he will score more goal.