Sheffield United, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Burnley and Newcastle United are Arsenal’s opponents in the coming weeks and unless Arsenal can stop getting draws or defeats and can start winning games, things will look considerably worse come the end of February.
One can always borrow the theory from the Bourne trilogy which states that you should “hope for the best but plan for the worst” would be incredibly apt.
It’s clear that there have been significant improvements in Arsenal’s performances since Mikel Arteta’s arrival but the Arsenal hierarchy must also have noted that the North London club could be in trouble come April.
Palace (2), Bournemouth, Everton, Norwich, Southampton, Wolves, Manchester United, Watford and Spurs are on the list of draws and apart from the last two, it’s hardly a list that suggests Arsenal have the quality in their ranks to emphatically avoid relegation or that is capable of competing next season with zero additions.
I’m hoping that Arsenal will add a quality central defender and possibly a box to box midfielder whilst riding themselves of any surplus players. Yet, I’m expecting that Arsenal will furnish us with plausible but weak excuses as to why they could not make any form of signing in this window. Very Bourne Ultimatum.
The clock is ticking and every Arsenal fan spends at least two hours a day searching for news of incoming transfers, whilst at the same time watching helplessly as a mixture of injuries and a lack of foresight wreck their season.
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On a more positive note, Arsenal are said to be in talks with the representatives of three players at present, but not all will join in January unless loan deals can be made. Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu of AC Milan is a possible loan that would be of interest and one that would add to both attack and defence.
There is still talk of Jerome Boateng arriving and although it’s gone quiet on that front, its a typical Arsenal transfer ploy. Daniele Rugani of Juventus is another name that won’t disappear but Arsenal will have a fight on their hands to secure the Italian’s considerable talents, with up to four other clubs showing interest in the player, two from the Premier League.
