By all accounts, Arsenal have started the season well. Pundits may have been keen to paint the 3-1 defeat by Aston Villas as a kind of crisis, but Arsene Wenger’s have already proven that this was just a blip.
Whilst the Gunners looked a little off colour during their opening day defeat by Paul Lambert’s side, they were severely hamstrung by some odd refereeing decisions. Since then, they haven’t looked back and they’ve won six games on the bounce. Some crisis, eh?
As a result, there’s a real wealth of good feeling around The Emirates at the moment. But I can’t help but feel that this positivity should be tapered with a certain degree of realism. A few good results does not a season make. The Gunners have a long way to go.
Indeed, we’re still at the start of the season and Arsenal’s squad is already beginning to look perilously thin. Injuries to players like Mikel Arteta, Thomas Vermaelen, Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain have revealed a significant lack of depth within the Gunners squad. I’m just not sure Arsenal have the numbers necessary to compete for silverware this season.
But they could make it to the January transfer window. And once they’ve reached that point, Arsene Wenger could get his cheque-book out, sign a few players and throw some more competition into the mix. Everybody’s (Wenger included) is well aware of the Gunners’ weaknesses. This is probably the best solution available.
The question remains as to who Arsenal should look to bring in this January. I, for one, hope that the club looks at bringing in a centre-back.
Having let Sebastien Squillaci exit the club and Johan Djourou and Ignasi Miquel leave on loan, Arsenal are short of options in this department. Adding another defender would provide the club with the competition for places it sorely needs.
As luck would have it, Arsenal have been linked to Greek centre-back (and Liverpool target) Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Source: The Star). He may be young (just 21-years-old), but he’d be an excellent addition to this Arsenal squad.
He’s strong in the air and along the ground. He’s energetic, reads the game well and makes good decisions. Throughout his time with Schalke, he’s proven to be an astute defender. If he continues to develop at such a rate, he could blossom into a real star.
It’s thought that he’d cost around £11m. We know Arsenal have money to spend. Let’s hope Arsene Wenger’s willing!
What’s your take? Would Kyriakos Papadopoulos be a good additions for the Gunners?
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