It was a frustrating transfer window for Arsenal fans, watching Premier League rivals splash out untold fortunes whilst Arsene Wenger made just a single £10million signing in goalkeeper Petr Cech – rendering the north London outfit the only club throughout Europe’s leading to flights not to sign an outfield player.
In addition to the need for added firepower – which This Is Futbol discussed yesterday – the vast majority of Gunners fans wanted to see a holding midfielder arrive at the Emirates this summer, with the ball-winning burden currently placed almost exclusively on Francis Coquelin’s relatively inexperienced shoulders.
Indeed, a lack of physicality and defensive awareness in the engine room is one of the few glass ceilings between Arsenal and the other Premier League title contenders. Once again, however, Arsene Wenger has issued the old party line of no players of significant enough talent being available during the transfer window.
But we at This Is Futbol couldn’t disagree more. Looking at the market and signings made by other clubs, there were countless defensive midfielders available during the summer that would have, at the very least, given Arsenal greater defensive cover at the heart of midfield. Here are just six of them.