Arsenal have increased the strength in depth within their team this season, but as always there are still positions which require further treatment, if they hope to challenge for major honours each year. Although Arsene Wenger’s squad isn’t far from completion, there are three key areas which could do with strengthening this summer.
Goalkeeping
In recent years the likes of Manuel Almunia, Lukas Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny have all plied their trade between the sticks, but failed to truly assert themselves as deserving number ones.
Szczesny has had the no.1 jersey in his possession since his emergence from the academy during the 2010/11 season, and was showing great promise of evolving into an Arsenal great. However, the consequence for his inconsistency has allowed summer signing David Ospina, to be Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper shortly after his return from injury.
The 24 year-old Poland international has failed to make a single Premier League appearance since the beginning of the year, and as a result has seen his future career at the club shrouded with major doubt.
Ospina who was brought in from Ligue 1 side Nice, has ceased his opportunity by impressing massively between the sticks, but how much confident do the Arsenal fans have of Szczesny’s capabilities whenever he’s called into action?
Arsenal have been missing the presence of a world-class keeper since the days of David Seaman and Jens Lehmann, but in recent weeks the Gunners have been linked with Chelsea’s long serving goalkeeper, Petr Čech.
The Czech is reportedly disgruntled with his current situation at the club – playing second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois since the start of the season – and is almost certain to leave the club he joined 11 years ago. Wenger may be swayed by the opportunity to acquire the very capable services of the 32 year-old, who undoubtedly bolster Arsenal’s goalkeeping ranks.