Arsene Wenger is a manager that has been heavily criticized this season for his ‘failings’ in the transfer market as the Gunners have consistently struggled due to the paucity of options in key positions this campaign. We all know that the manager is someone that takes a considerable amount of time to think through the players he wants to sign and as always, that player has to be for the ‘right price’.
The Gunners have crashed out of the Capital One Cup at the first hurdle and their Premier League title challenge has gone up in flames as well so the best shot of silverware this season can come from the FA Cup and well, the Champions League *gulp*. Hey, as long as you’re still in a competition, you have a chance of winning it. -____-
It’s only fair to take some time to analyze Arsenal’s new recruits this season before thinking about who could join the pack.
When Lukasz Fabianski joined the club on the back of an exemplary record in the Polish League, many felt that he would be a good understudy to Manuel Almunia. After some consistent errors from the Spanish goalie, Fabianski became the club’s No. 1 but injuries paved the way for Wojciech Szczesny and he hasn’t looked back ever since. With Wenger clearly favoring the younger Pole over Fabianski, the goalie was limited to domestic cup matches and will be forever remembered for his heroics against Wigan in the semis of last season’s FA Cup.
With the goalie leaving for Swansea in search of first team football, Arsenal signed the Colombian shot stopper, David Ospina, but his constant niggling injury problems has made the fans not to watch him on a consistent basis. Even when Szczesny was out for a couple of games, Arsenal had to count on a young goalie, Emiliano Martinez, and he performed admirably. At least, Wenger now has a selection headache on who his No. 2 goalie will be when Ospina and Martinez are fit.
Moving further up the pitch, Matt Debuchy has been a perfect replacement for the departed Bacary Sagna and his early season performances were top notch before his bizarre injury in the game against Manchester City. Since his return to full fitness, Debuchy played for over an hour in the dead-rubber match against Galatasaray before playing as a center back, yes, center back, in the 4-1 drubbing of his former employers, Newcastle. Many fans expressed their doubts when they saw the Frenchman line up beside Per Mertesacker but he put up a great performance. With Calum Chambers returning from his suspension, Debuchy is odds on to return to his favored right back position.
Speaking of Chambers, that young lad has been a revelation since signing for what seemed to be a ‘huge’ transfer fee. Whether at center back or right back, the guy has been damn consistent but from time to time, his inexperience is usually exposed and he has a penchant for picking up cards. At 19, he has a lot to learn and this club would give him the right platform to excel.
Then there’s the awesome incredible fantastic inhuman beastly OMG Alexis Sanchez. Alexis Sanchez Alexis Sanchez Alexis Sanchez is just the Alexis Sanchez definition of the word amazing Alexis Sanchez. Okay, I’m getting carried away but hey you can’t blame me.
On transfer deadline day, the Gunners signed that guy, Danny Welbeck from Manchester United and his arrival was met with mixed opinions from the fans. The lad has been playing well this season and he has gotten in on the scoring act as well but it’s clear that he’s one for the future, even if he’s doing great right now.
Despite these five great signings (yeah, Ospina is great too), the Gunners are still short of numbers in some positions and the club’s injury nightmares haven’t stop yet.
So if you’re Arsene Wenger, who would you sign in January?
Sayonara