To truly put Arsenal back on the football map, Josh Kroenke and Raul Sanllehi will effectively have to start over and rip the current side apart, because it simply doesn’t work.
The truth is that Arsenal are abysmal at the back, the midfield is lacking creativity and solidity and they can’t provide the necessary service to two of the World’s top strikers.
Expect Bellerin, Aubameyang or Lacazette to be the first out of the door in an effort to reinvest in what is clearly a dysfunctional, brittle and at times gutless squad.
Make no bones about it, the newly confirmed Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta will have to make a series of smart purchases to reinvigorate the gunners and supporters may have to brace themselves. Arteta who was widely considered by numerous bookmakers like Bettingmetrics, as the odds on favourite to succeed Unai Emery at the helm has now been confirmed and will now have one hell of a challenge on his hand to turn the club around.
It’s likely that only four purchases will be made but that’s probably going to happen in the summer. The January transfer window requires the immediate purchase of a quality defender and I’m going for Dayot Upamecano, with possibly the addition of a player that is already in the premier league.
Long term, a host of names from the premiership would form my own personal shopping list including Rúben Neves, William Bolly and Conor Coady (Wolves)
Lewis Dunk (Brighton) Ismaïla Sarr (Watford) Idrissa Gana Gueye (PSG) Roberto Pereyra and Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford) all of which would be a marked improvement in what is already in place.
READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS:
Fans Are Looking For Arsenal To Reinforce Its Defence When The January Transfer Window Opens
Time For Arsenal To Look For A New Partnership In The Centre Of Defence To Stop Gifting Goals
In terms of outgoings, there would be quite a few including Maitland Niles, Shkodran Mustafi, Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil, Callum Chambers, Rob Holding, Sead Kolasinac, David Luiz, Dani Cabellos (loan) Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Lucas Torreira.
Before you think I’ve lost my mind, let me explain the thought process. The list of players I’ve outlined would be leaving over the course of two seasons but there are a host of defenders to leave the books immediately and I’m sure we are in agreement about the majority of those names.
So, let’s deal with the names that you perhaps don’t agree with such as Lucas Torreira.
The Uruguayan is there because he has failed to settle or show the type of form he is capable of.
He hasn’t provided the defensive cover that we hoped for and is nowhere near as good as N’Golo Kanté or Steven N’zonzi in the role.
Emery was right, N’zonzi would have been better !
Let’s move on to Dani Cabellos who he has failed to sparkle consistently in a desperately average Arsenal side, so what’s the point in extending the loan or buying him outright.
Konstantinos Mavropanos features because he hasn’t proven himself, he is either part of Arsenal’s future or he isn’t !
He came with high expectations but has never shown an appetite for a regular place in this side despite having almost no competition.
Maitland Niles also needs to depart because he just doesn’t have the engine or class to be a midfielder at Arsenal and in terms of defence, my Nan could do better.
Harsh ? Don’t be daft, supporters have managed to justify a series of poor performances because he was played out of position.
Yet on the odd occasion he has been utilised in his preferred midfield position, he has looked equally poor. Iwobi was better and was packed off to Everton.
So what’s the plan ?
Gabby Martinelli, Tyreece John-Jules, Folarin Balogun, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah are the future up front. Joe Willock, Robbie Burton, Emile Smith Rowe, James Olayinka, Bukayo Saka and Mattéo Guendouzi will form the midfield and Tolaji Bola, Zech Medley, Kieran Tierney, Tobi Omole, Harry Clarke and Mark McGuinness will fill the defensive gaps.
William Saliba is permanent at the end of the season and Arsenal need to add four quality players capable of creativity. Natural leaders capable of displaying tenacity and resilience, something that the gunners haven’t had since the days of Vieira and Adams.
It’s time to create a new Arsenal but it won’t be without some tears along the way. Follow ArseDevils to stay updated with everything happening in and around the Emirates.
Agree with that. 1,000%