It’s the first question on every Arsenal fan’s mind, so let’s throw it around a bit shall we? I contend that we need 5 things to win the league:
Cesc Fabregas. Before we even get to potential new signings and the usual litany of names associated with the Arsenal, let’s be very clear about one thing. We need Fabregas to stay, to be committed, and to be inspirational if we are going to win the title finally. It SOUNDS like the determination to keep him may be paying off.
A goalkeeper. I know it’s obvious, but just cast your mind back to all the horrendous Flappy Handski and Almunia mistakes at critical times. It’s just not good enough. I’m a big fan of Joe Hart and I just don’t understand how he thinks he’ll be England No1 sitting on the bench at Citeh. I would also welcome Schwarzer, Stekelenburg, or anyone else that can catch. This needs sorting. Now!
A centre back. We absolutely need the cover. Thrilled that Sol has re-signed and think he can still be useful. Djourou has a bigger part to play and Koscielny is promising but unproven. I think there is truth in this Jagielka tale and I would keep my fingers crossed that this gets done before the start of the season.
A defensive midfielder. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Alex Song. He was the best player on the pitch for so many games last season that I lost count. He’s a brilliant young player. BUT, we need depth. When Alex is out we have Denilson. That’s it. The younger players are not ready yet. Plus, for a Man Utd or Barcelona game maybe you want a second defensive midfielder in ALONGSIDE Song, so you need options. I would really welcome a Felipe Melo or, as most recently suggested, something like a Nigel De Jong from the Citeh Firesale.
A bit of luck. Especially with injuries… Keep your key players fit, have a strong start to the season and anything can happen.
You will note the complete lack of attacking players on my ‘wish list’. Unless Cesc leaves (then we need Ozil or similar), then I truly believe we are well set up from an attacking perspective. Especially assuming we play 4-3-3 with one target man as per last season. Then you have three players competing for that role, led by Van Persie. Chamakh and Bendnter are then competing for a starting birth once Robin gets injured. Under this system, we then have Cesc in behind the main striker and a choice of Arshavin, Theo, Nasri, Vela, Rosicky on the wings.
The priority should absolutely be the defensive part of the squad. To go into the season feeling like we have good depth and good cover really would fire my optimism through the roof. Come on Arsene, sign a couple of cheques.
Article written by Mark Howden
Arsenal News 24/7
Sol Campbell has re-signed?
Thanks Trevor
I’ve amended that bit 
I totally agree with everything yu have said.We need a GK, a defender and a midfielder.If fab gets injured then what?If song gets injured whats the next option?If Wenger gets the 3 vplayers we have talked about then the premiership is ours.
Felipe Melo. Please!
With Melo and Song in mid-field, Arsenal will be unbeatable.
It’s a shame Ramsey had that serious injury. He could’ve saved us a few quid this season.
Melo would be spot on, I’d love to have him at Arsenal.
ramsey could do songs part quiet capably,whens he back,scott
melo,is a disaster waitin to happen…every time i see him play my ‘brain shits in my mouth’ or may be thats wat arsenal need,i dunno….van bommel…good,experienced,duno if bayern will let him go thou,,,that would be a super sinnin
jai, he is due back towards the end of the year. Possibly October / November time.
Van Bommel is an absolute arsehole, but the sort of player you need in a team.
Talking of attacking options, we have no problem. Because i expect Nasri, Walcott and arshavin 2b on fire. If the 3 are fit all through then fab, Vp, Chamakh will score lots of goals. I strongly agree with u that we need a good goalkeeper and cover 4 koscilieny and verm. Am nt sure about dhorou?
every time i see Van Bommel, sweet talk a refree ,eboue shoots in to my mind….and btw frimpong could be ready in like 2 yrs or so…then well have a enforcer like viera once was…a complete beast
ramsey is not a DM, and melo is way too overrated
what about hangeland?im sure we could get him for about 8mil now that hodgson snaked off to anfield,,i think shay given would be some signing for us,we need him not hart,dunno about melo he would be suspended most of the time id say,somebody like Diego Pérez, the uruguain fella .he is 30 and looks a really good dm and is a lot more experienced than any of our midfielders,,,the clock is ticking
get “de jong” from citehs firesale-someone who knows how to kick the sort of c**ts you get from blackburn,stoke,brum etc-we’re way too nice-let them moan about red cards-they(fa,ref,media etc)hate us anyway-give em something else tomoan about lol!
what we really need is a replacement for fabregas.. if we miss ozil this year , its difficult to find a player of his caliber next season.
ofcourse we need a CB and Gk.. but im convinced that there will b no more new signings this season..i bet on that.. thats sure.. bcoz wenger has his own unique way..
what about, Bastian Schweinsteiger?
wouldnt that be a good signing for that midfeild, he had a good world cup.
also if you were to play two in that defensive midfield, you want one who has immense long passing accuracy, as once he gets the ball he can just spray it back up front..
maybe nasri and song in DM and then cese in front.
quite like to see lassana diarra back,i know he left under a clould of smoke but i thought he was going to be imence for us,it was only flammini messing us around with his contract saying he was staying that we let diarra go,cant get in the madrid team for toffee,maybe ten million would get him,we got five of that when we sold him to portsmouth so realistically we would only pay five
Kishan, I’d take Schweinsteiger all day long, but I can’t see that happening.
Potts, I agree, Diarra would be quality for us.
First we need an international keeper with big match experience, and if Sol comes which I think he is then we should buy a Defensive Midfielder preferably European.One who can play in centre defence or DM No harm to them but we loose Alex Song & Co for the African Nations cup so we need to watch where we buy these players. I would not worry too much into cover for Cesc as Nasri can do a job with Rosicky giving him the last 30 minutes in some games.But we need a big name or two in there for next season.
i think people are missing a huge factor this season. havard nordtveit is back, having played last season as dm for nuremburg. so he is another option. but again i think the BIGGEST factor is djourou. he is a 6″4 monster who can play dm as well. so as long as we sign another cb we have 3 prospective dm. we dont need melo, who is pants.
though if needed, the dm i would want is de jong. he is just an arse hole lol. love him
I think we need another def midfielder more than a new keeper, song is good but we need cover, I would go for De Jong, I would not go near Melo. I have been very pleased with Arshavin in the pre season so far he seems more committed than before, and his form looks good to along with Nasri. and i think Chamakh will prove to be a great signing for us.
Let Arsene decide but hopefully decide to buy Ozil & Melo or De Jong. That for me would complete the jig-saw puzzle. I like Woji to be tried in goal and given a chance like Casillas was for Real Madrid at that age. we do not therefore need a goalie.
What about Micah Richards, I see him offloading this summer as well…..
He’s young, strong as a bear and have EPL experience. If I were to decide who to sign it would definitely be a CB and GK from premiership, coz they wont have to adapt that much to the conditions of playing. Micah and Given would be awesome…..xD
This constant delusional bantering about the likes of Melo and de Jong is bordering on self-harm.
We’ll have a 2010-11 squad of just 25.
Only 17 can be over 21.
And 8 must be “home grown”.
So, just how do you think you’re going to get these thugs into the team?
Good ideas guys!!
Hope Wenger is listening..
if Ozil is in for 10mil lets get him.
Lets get De Jong for cheap from city and 1 experienced CB and 1 GK!!!
come on Arsene, this is the chance before City buys more players and then it is all over..
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Ramsey? In a DM role? Please. So many names and ideas floating around in response to this blog; have faith, my fickle friends.
Vassiriki “Abou” Diaby (imho) held a good account of himself in a poor French side at the WC. Denilson is OK for a squad player but I would like to see Eboue tidy his ‘act’ up a little because I think he’s as hard as nails. The point is, as much as I’d like to see more signings (esp: GK + CD + CM) I do think the current squad is equipped to deal with the over-hyped PL. Don’t forget, it’s this same squad that got us through last season without RVP for most of it, without Fabregas for some of it and how many games did we play without a striker? Just when we got through that one, we lost the Verminator and were then without decent centre half.
I’ve questioned a lot of Arsene Wenger’s choices and decisions, but at the close of business, we’re up there with the best. He must be respected for the players and team he develops rather than criticised for the signings he doesn’t make.
Good blogpost, Mark.
Think we need to get De Jong or Scott Parker, Hart, and Cahill. Now back to the real world, we will probably only get one more player and AW is already trawling the free transfer catalogue as we speak! We are a big club – now we need to make a statement and behave like one who really wants to win the league, not fizzle out two thirds of the way through due to injuries/suspensions.
replacement for Fabregas? Have you see Samir Nasri fill that role?
Number 1 priority: Akinfeev / Frey
Melo is a bit of a loose canon, would much prefer signing someone who could play as CB and DMF (2 in 1).
and would love to see Loic Remy at Arsenal!
de jong or felipe melo…melo is ok i don’t rate him highly but we need someone that will commit & get stuck in to hard challenges…melo fits that…although his disciplinary records a bit mad but oh well…also de jong…he’s a hard tackler…i’d like us to sign jan vertonghen…he’s tall & a good defender…i think we should get schwarzer also for two or three seasons by then wojciech szczęsny should be proper ready for us…
akinfeev i reckon also…
Assuming Fab wil stay 4 this season, i think Ramsey can be a better replacement, am a fan of Ozil but i think he the same as the welshman but the question is, wil ramsey b the same as before the injury? i hope yes.
Here’s the answer…
A. Obviousy, we need a goalkeeper. I’d take any of the following: Akinfeev, Hart, Lloris, or Stekelenburg. If none of these, how about Brad Guzan from Villa?
B. In addition to Koscielny, we need to sign another central defender…(Mertesacker, Richards)…someone who can help us win balls in the air. This would allow us to push Vermaelen into the DM role if necessary.
C. We also need a proper winger on the right side. If we play 4-3-3, the current options are Walcott and who else? Balotelli would have been perfect but he’s too expensive. Would love any one of these: Eden Hazard, Jack Rodwell, Agbonlehor.
D. Sell the following: Denilson, Almunia, Fabianski, and Bendtner.
Problems solved.
You’re welcome.
“As of next season clubs will be required to have a squad named of up to 25 players, of which no more than 17 can be over the age of 21 and not home grown.”
“The definition of home grown is trained for three years under the age of 21 by somebody in the English and Welsh professional system.”
The squad must be registered on September 1st … the day after the transfer window ends.
Too many fantasy football dreamers here.
That is exactly my shopping list, there are so many sites that go overboard saying we need 5 or 6 players.
My ideal choices would be a grandad keeper but class so Chesney will get a chance in a couple of years. Although if we got the Ajax Keeper or Akinfeev I wouldn’t complain.
CB – I’d prefer Jagielka over Cahill I think but isn’t Jag a lefty… it’s never good having two lefties at the back.
Centre Midder – I’d just like somebody solid, big, massive filthy midfielder.
Fingers Crossed! Knowing Arsenal we’ll all be up at 1a.m on deadline day glued to sky sports news
vijay
check your facts mate players under the age of 21 dont have to be registered .
squads have to have 25 players atleast 8 home grown in that number.
a home grown player is one who as trained for the club for a period of three years before his 21st birthday, regardless of nationality .
My Plan:
Goalkeeper of quality – Almunia back up and sell Fabianski
Center Back of quality – Zapata, Mertselder
Center Mid – SELL Denilson and get Gilberto, De Jong from City, or another one
I would be satisfied with this but 1 more addition could be to sell Vela and get another striker i.e. Remy etc.
If we made these changes we could cut the fat and actually get better.
also Rosicky could be sold and get Van der Vaart (another possible option)
how can we say we have improved alot. Yes Chamack is an improvement for Eduardo. But we have lost Gallas as a starter along with back ups and signed only 1 center back. Man City are improving we are making baby steps. We lost 6 out of 8 games to the top teams last year, some of them convincingly. We need to wake up for real.
please wenger buy some good players gk and one moor defender and also midfilder till we can win pl
ozil if fabregas goes, hart, richards, van der wiel, honda or hazard IN
almunia, fabianski, eboue, maybe walcott, rosicky. OUT
wont happen but we can dream
We need hart or given a new CB hopefully as good as tommy Vermalen
oh and cesc is goin nowwhere fact as rafa would say
city need to offload players and its not like they need the money so there players wont be to expensive. we need a quality keeper like hart and a english centre half like richards plus he is a gooner so he will bring quality, spirit, passion and power.
Rank Name Team Overall Ranking Actim Index
1 Petr Cech Chelsea 17 518
2 Brad Friedel Aston Villa 23 481
3 Jose Reina Liverpool 24 473
4 Joe Hart Birmingham 31 430
5 Tim Howard Everton 33 429
6 Heurelho Gomes Tottenham 40 415
7 Shay Given Man City 43 404
8 Mark Schwarzer Fulham 44 403
9 Manuel Almunia Arsenal 51 386
10 Paul Robinson Blackburn 60 375
how much better is schwarzer??
Thx for sharing my thoughts jake, and I’m quite sure that verminator and “richardsator” would make some real trouble for strikers next season, plus richards is DAMN FAST!!! Also quite a dribbler, check out some of his defending action here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js6o7tdkNPc
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zapata please
GK: we need world class GK such as AKINFIEFF or but if wenger decide not to add goalie we should trust WOJA (hope he will be the next CASSILLAS of arsenal fc)
Def: we need METERSTAKER because he is very experience CB and from buendesliga (this league has improve last season) or take MICAH RICHARD from Man Cashey..he can fulfil CB or cover RB if SAGNA get injured and we a lil bit short in that position or JAGIELKA coz he can cover CB and DM if song get injuired.
Midfield : we need player XABI ALONSO or VAN BOUMMEL type of player. I see it in DIABY, he’s quite good in last WC but sadly the whole french squad is very poor
The rest we should trust WALCOTT, NASRI, ARSHAVIN, ROSICKY, BENTDNER to improve and more experience player than last season
thx
I’m ARSENAL till i die
http://wp.me/p10kXF-m
Check out my article on Fabregas
We Can Win:
1st Team:
Szczesny
Sagna – Koscielny – Vemalean – Clichy
Fabregas – Song – Nasri
VanPersie – Chamakh – Arshavin
2nd Team:
Mannone(Fabianski)
Eboue – Djourou – Nordtveit – Gibbs(Traore)
Wilshere – Denilson – Diaby(Ramsey)
Walcot – Bendtner – Vela
3rd Team:
James.Shea
Eastmond – Bartley – Miquel – Botelho(Cruise)
Coquelin(Henderson) – Frimpong – Lansbury(Randall)
J.E.Thomas(W.Silva) – Simpson(Sunu) – Barazite(Watt)
But If Wenger Wants 2 Buy A GK,CB,DM then these are who we need:
GK – Mark Schwarzer.
CB+DM+Vermalean Old Team Mate, National Team Mate n Close Friend – Jan Vertonghen.
or
CB+RB+DM – Micah Richards.
With Or Without Fabregas Lifes Goes On Heres A Team Assuming Fabregas Left and V.Persie Was Injured:
Szczesny
Sagna – Koscielny – Vemalean – Clichy
Nasri – Song – Wilshere/Ramsey
Walcot – Chamakh – Arshavin
Or
Szczesny
Sagna – Koscielny – Vemalean – Clichy
Song – Diaby/Frimpong/Denilson
Walcot/Vela – Nasri – Arshavin
M..Chamakh
The League Is Tough This Season Even Westham Can Cost Any Top Team Some Points:
Arsenal:
Szczesny
Sagna – Koscielny – Vemalean – Clichy
Fabregas – Song – Nasri
VanPersie – Chamakh – Arshavin
Chelsea:
Cech
Ivanovic – Carvalho – Terry – Cole
Lampard – Essien – O.Mikel
Anelka – Drogba – Malouda
Liverpool:
Reina
G.Johnson – Carragher – Agger/Skrtel – ?
Aquilani – Mascherano
Kuyt – Gerrard – J.Cole
Torres
Manchester:
Van Der Sa
Rafeal – Ferdinand – Vidic – Evra
Valencia – Fletcher – Carrick – Nani
Berbatov – Ronney
Man City:
Given
Boateng – K.Toure – Lescot – Kolarov
Y.Toure – De Jong
Bellamy – Tevez – Silva/Robinho
Adebayor
Tottenham:
Gomes
Corluka – Dawson – King – Bale
Lennon – Palacios – Modric – Kranjcar
Keane – Defoe
Westham:
Green
Behrami – Spector – Upson – Ilunga
Barrera – Noble – Parker – Hitzlsperger
Piquionne – C.Cole
not schwarzer please. he is an average goalie who has never played for a top team. hes old and he would do exact same job as almunia it would be pointless.
melo is overrated and sol campbel has not re-signed he will probarbly sign for newcastle look http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_6281043,00.html
Ooops I see know need to answer me sorry!!