We are in the boring period where there aren’t any games being played so we have to rely on football quiz questions, Match Of The Day replays, and our own Sunday League to get us our hit of football! But this year is a bit different because wow, this is a tasty transfer window so far — very exciting, very weird. And there’s a long way to go, there’s more on the way, there has to be, things haven’t been this calm and ruthless since, well, um… The count so far is four, and all very good additions. We’re in a much better shape, with depth everywhere, and with the majority of our transfer budget still intact, thanks to some savvy business on Arsenal’s part. Wenger’s so chilled about everything. I love it. Things are going to be good next year, there’s a great buzz around the club. Bringing in Chambers and shipping out Jenkinson, loan or permanent, shows a change in mentality with the club. Arsene is taking no prisoners this summer. Here’s hoping he goes one, no, three further. I want seem him really bite down now and finish the window with a bang, preferably Pogba/Carvalho shaped.
1. Matija Nastasic
Arteta and Flamini are not powerhouses, they can’t keep up when top teams storm out of the blocks and hit seven in a row. There’s an enormous, Vieira-sized, gap in the team. Fill it. Then we’re really talking about a team that can do great things. POGBA. With capital letters. That boy is the present and future. He’s a monster of a player already, and at a measly 21 years of age that’s scary. Break the bank, do anything to get him, anything. If he’s available then Arsenal have to be in the mix for him. He’s too good. He’d turn the team into something special. If not Pogba, then go for someone similar, albeit not as good, yet more available: William Carvalho of Sporting Lisbon. Haven’t seen any of him, only that everyone who talks about him talks very highly, and there’s a general buzz around the boy. Carvalho is imposing, he’d be superb for us. We really do need a player of that type. We have all the other ingredients, (bar maybe a top, top striker) yet we go into every season with the same hole; there’s no midfield general. That’s what this Arsenal team is crying out for. If not him, then stop messing around, and snap up Khedira, who’s playing up like a faulty light. On a tiny side not, it’s odd that we haven’t gone for Schneiderlin, rather than risk missing out on a defensive midfielder altogether. But then Arsenal is still Arsenal, and Arsene is still Arsene, so maybe it’s not that odd. Read about the other players suggested by clicking below.
2. Paul Pogba
Going into the start of the season, Arsenal have few senior centre backs, and, bar Sanchez, look very light up top. When’s Theo back? I miss Theo. At the moment, because, really, nobody ever knows what Arsene is thinking-ever-we’re looking at a starting pair of Hayden and Koscielny, which I’m fine with-as a start…against Crystal Palace. Another centre back is needed, and was still needed, even with the immovable Kos/Mert partnership. They can’t play every game, they’re ageing, and they’re too good to let fatigue ruin them to injuries. We’ve been rumoured to be keen on Nastasic from Man City, which fits all the boxes perfectly, he’s young and talented; and would get more game time at Arsenal. It’s dubious as to whether or not City would sell to a rival, but we should try, hell, they would. It’d be a great signing, and then, defensively, we’d look secure. Wenger said he views Chambers (great signing) as a possible centre back, so purchasing another seems unlikely; but that’s a step you have to take in order to challenge for all trophies. A large part of it is a big competitive squad. Besides, Arsenal don’t have the luck to mess around with the thin areas of the squad. I’m low on centre back knowledge, but any addition in that area would enable the squad to rotate with more frequency, thus improving the chances of competing effectively across all competitions.
3. Mario Balotelli
Striker. That word again. Giroud is not the problem on the striker front; the problem is that it’s only Giroud. I said Arsenal don’t need to sign a striker, and they don’t need to, but to be a success this season, across all fronts, we still need that extra bit of magic up top, which would make the crucial deference. You only have to look at City’s strike force to see how inadequate it makes Arsenal look up front, although, most are quick to dismiss the presence of Walcott and Sanchez in the team, who are sure to carry the majority of the goal burden…with Ramsey, of course…if he allows it. Even now, I’d still go crazy if we signed Balotelli. It’d be an immense signing, and really represent the power Arsenal have on the transfer front now. He ticks every box a striker can have. Fast, strong, aggressive. That’s what you want. But on an even more fantasy level, if Falcao goes to Madrid, Benzema would be an equally impressive signing. If neither happen? Well, isn’t Jackson Martinez just sat in a dark room, staring at his phone, waiting for THAT Wenger call? I’d be happy with Martinez, his age is creeping up on him, but now we could do with another quality striker up top.
In hindsight, this post could have been three words: Nastasic, Pogba, Balotelli.