With the season now officially over, Arsene Wenger has made it clear that the Gunners will be active on the transfer market for new players. They will need to bring in some quality players so that they can build a team that can challenge for trophies. With a number of players including the likes of Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson set for exit from Arsenal, it is likely that the Arsenal manager will bring in some replacements.

It is that time of the year where the football media is rife with plenty of transfer rumours regarding various players linked with a number of clubs. The Gunners have also been linked with a number of players but it is still uncertain as to whether Arsene Wenger will spend the money to bring in experienced players to the squad.

With Nasri's contract situation and the continued speculation about the future of Cesc Fabregas, it is important for Wenger to make some quality signings and ensure that he can hold on to his best players.

Wenger has built this team with not much money but if he does not spend the money to resolve Arsenal's problems, it could lead to huge backlash from the Arsenal fans who have grown tired of this title drought.

Some of the recent transfer rumours linking players with a move to the Emirates are listed in this article and also what it could mean for the Gunners if they sign the player.


Scott Parker: Defensive Midfielder / Central Midfielder

Scott Parker was amongst the best players in the Premiership this season and it is a shame that West Ham United was relegated despite his inspirational performances for the club. It is very likely that he will be allowed to move to other clubs if there is a bid of the right price. Though it is still uncertain as to what price West Ham would demand for the midfielder, it is expected to be in the range of £8-10 million.

The 30-year-old has been linked with Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal and the Gunners will have to spend the right amount to sign the former Chelsea midfielder. Wenger has been reluctant to give more than one year contracts to players aged above 30 but he will certainly have to do so in the case of Parker if he decides to sign the midfielder.

Advantages

Parker is a player who has immense experience in the Premiership and can certainly bring in a lot of leadership to a side lacking the mental strength to win titles. Also, Song has no competition for his role in the midfield and as a result, any injury to the Cameroon International could be a huge blow to the Gunners if they do not sign a defensive midfielder. In more detail, you can check out this article as to why Parker would be an excellent signing for Arsenal. 

Disadvantages

At the age of 30, he is at best a short term signing for the Gunners and also, there is a good chance he might have to spend a lot of time on the bench. Also, he does not have a lot of pace and could struggle with Arsenal's style of play. Another reason is that he has had a number of injuries in the last few years and he has played through the pain on many occasions which could result in further injuries with age.


Gary Cahill: Centre Back

Gary Cahill is one of the most consistent performers for Bolton who have had a good 2010-11 season and his performances have not gone unnoticed as he has been rewarded with a call-up to the England national team. The 25-year-old has been solid for Bolton alongside Zat Knight and is one of the main reasons why Bolton are in the top half of the table.

Cahill had been linked with Arsenal last year to fill the void left by the departure of William Gallas and Sol Campbell but Wenger was reluctant to meet the valuation of Cahill by Bolton. Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham have also been linked with the English International and with only one year left on his contract, he is certain to move to another club in the summer who would have to pay around £15 million to acquire his services.

Advantages

He is a tall, no-nonsense Centre Back who is experienced in the Premiership and can add a lot of stability to the Arsenal defence. Also, at the age of 25, he is moving on to the peak years of his career and would be a good addition to Arsenal. He is physically strong and would help Arsenal cope with set-pieces better.

Disadvantages

With Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool linked with the player, the Gunners could be forced to pay quite a high amount to secure the services of the player. Also, he does not have any Champions League experience and could struggle to cope with the high defensive line adopted by Arsene Wenger's team.




Christopher Samba: Centre Back

Christopher Samba was apparently close to making a switch to Arsenal in January when he was unhappy with the sacking of Sam Allardyce and also, with Arsenal on the market for a defender to replace the injured Vermaelen. However, he opted to stay with Blackburn and Arsenal did not sign any defender in January, which contributed to extending their title drought to six years.

The former Hertha Berlin defender has been one of the key players for Blackburn since his move to England and has attracted the interest from clubs like Aston Villa and Arsenal. Though he signed a one-year contract extension in February, it is likely that Arsenal can sign the centre back if they make a bid of around £10 million.

Advantages

Samba is a brute of a defender and is very strong in the air, which will help Arsenal solve their problem of defending set-pieces. He can score important goals from set-piece situations and can be an important addition for Arsenal. The 27-year old brings a lot of leadership to the team and can organize the defence which has not been solid for the Gunners.

Disadvantages

Samba does not have great technique on the ball like Thomas Vermaelen and is likely to struggle in bringing the ball from the back. Also, he does not have experience of playing in the Champions League and could struggle against teams that play fast neat passing as he does not have too much pace and his anticipation is not the best. However, his advantages makes him one of the players who Arsenal should target in the summer as they have struggled against physical teams and Samba could resolve some of their problems.


 
Morgan Amalfitano: Central Midfielder / Central Attacking Midfielder

Arsenal have been linked to Lorient FC midfielder Morgan Amalfitano in the recent past and it has to be admitted that not many other than regular followers of French Ligue 1 know in detain about the midfielder. The Lorient midfielder has had arguably his most productive season this year forming an excellent partnership with Kevin Gameiro, who has also been linked with the Gunners in the past.

Amalfitano has been likened to Patrick Vieira due to his powerful midfield play and has been integral for Lorient this season. He will be available on a free transfer and has attracted the interest of a number of clubs including the likes of Juventus and Aston Villa.

Advantages

Though Amalfitano seems to have been a late bloomer, he has done exceedingly well this year and is into his peak years of his career. He will want to succeed at this stage of his career and will have the desire to play at his best. He is available on a free transfer which is attractive for Arsenal who are likely to have some of their players leaving this season and Amalfitano could bring in quality depth to the squad.

Disadvantages

He has played all his career and could struggle to cope with the physicality of the English Premier League. Also, with players like Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas in the Arsenal squad, Amalfitano could struggle to get enough playing time at Arsenal. At the age of 26, he needs to be playing regularly and he will not be able to do so at Arsenal which could lead to yet another frustrated player on the bench.



Ricky Alvarez: Central Attacking Midfielder / Winger


It has been reported by many sections of the media that Wenger has identified Velez Sarsfield attacking midfielder Ricky Alvarez as the first signing of the summer for Arsenal with the Argentine footballer signing a pre-contract agreement with the Gunners. It has come as a surprise to almost everyone as not many outside Argentina had heard of Alvarez.

Wenger is a manager who has unearthed some of the best talents in the world by signing them as virtual unknowns like Patrick Vieira and Arsenal supporters will hope that he makes the right decision if he decides to sign Ricky Alvarez. The left footed midfielder can play in a number of positions across the midfield and looks to be a strong player with good technique on the ball.


Advantages

The 23-year old is available on a free transfer and could be another of Wenger's cheap but intelligent signings. He is quite tall at 6' 2" and also looks strong on the ball. From the many youtube videos available of the left footed midfielder, it can be observed that he has pace and excellent dribbling skills and can shoot from distance as well.

Also, he can play on the wings and in the role of an attacking midfielder and can provide good depth to the squad. He is still young and can develop into a quality player under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger if he shows that he has the quality and strength to play in the Premiership.

Disadvantages

He does not have any experience outside Argentina and he could struggle to settle in England and cope with the physicality of the Premiership. Also, he could be frustrated by the lack of opportunities in the Arsenal team because he will initially only be a squad player for the Gunners. With Ryo Miyaichi impressing on loan at Feyenoord, he could have severe competition for a place in the starting eleven in the future as well.

With Arsenal currently enduring a frustrating title drought, the pressure will be immense on all Arsenal players and every Arsenal player will be scrutinized for their mistakes. With Alvarez not possessing enough experience, he could be made a scapegoat by the Arsenal fans if he does not perform well when given the opportunity.

In addition to this, he has not got a good injury record with only 36 league appearances in his last three years for Velez Sarsfield. Wenger has unearthed some of the best talents in the Premiership and Arsenal supporters will hope that Ricky Alvarez can be one of his best signings if Wenger does sign the midfielder in the summer as reported.