Arsenal FC: Why This Summer Will Be the Period That Defines Wenger's Reign

Arsenal romped to a stylish victory against their arch-rivals Tottenham by scoring five goals and it was an excellent performance from the side especially after going two goals down. Arsene Wenger was clearly frustrated when Emmanuel Adebayor scored from the spot and would have demanded a reaction from the players. Their performance after that would have even surprised the manager, who has come under severe criticism this season. It was Arsenal at their best maintaining their attacking passing game at high intensity and also, they were clinical in finishing off the chances.

The players were thrilled by that performance and it was the sort of performance that could turn this season around for the Gunners. It is clearly observable that the players have huge respect for their manager, who have helped several players realize their potential. He has shown immense faith in his players but his faith has been misplaced at times which is why he has come under flak from the supporters and the media. This Arsenal team does not have the quality or the depth needed to win the Premiership title which is why the supporters have been frustrated though they still have the quality to finish fourth at the end of the season.

However, Wenger deserves the patience of supporters and the board and should be entrusted with the task of making them champions again. He has the experience of winning titles and should be given the freedom to spend freely in the next summer. It is clear that he has done an excellent job spending as much as he has but if there is money to spend, then it is imperative that Wenger spends it on quality players who can be the key to winning games.

Arsenal are not going to have the spending prowess of Manchester City or Chelsea but they do have a manager who has the capability to make astute acquisitions and if he adds three to four high quality players, then this team could challenge for titles. However, for them to spend money on players, it is also important for them to be ruthless when it comes to players who are not performing up to the required quality.

Though Wenger has not spend much on transfer fees in the last five years, Arsenal's wage bill is quite high which is due to the inflated wages received by some of the under-performing players. For example, Johan Djourou has been awarded a new contract despite not performing at the highest level for the team. Though he has tried his best, it is clear that Arsenal need better players if they are to stay at the highest level. Another problem with the current transfer decisions made by Wenger is his tendency to make one or two cheap signings just to make up the numbers.

Arsenal have three strikers in their squad out of which one is world class, the other is probably a mid-table team striker and not much is known about the third. Now, if Van Persie was to be ruled out due to a long term injury, then Arsenal fans would shudder at the thought of having to rely on Marouane Chamakh or Park Ju Young for goals till the end of the season. There are some players like Per Mertesacker who have the quality but take time to adjust to the Premiership and the league which is why it is wrong to make judgements on this summer's signings after only eight months in the Premiership.

Wenger has made mistakes especially in this summer's transfer market when they sold key players in Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and did not sign the players of the same quality. However, the Frenchman did make some important signings for the team who could be a key part of the future as well. Mikel Arteta has adjusted well to his deeper role in the side and is already one of the most important players for the team. Per Mertesacker has shown that he has the quality to be a top defender for the Gunners and did show signs of adjusting well to the Premiership before getting injured. Gervinho might lack the end product but there is no denying his talent and he could develop into a very important player for the Gunners.

Also, the signings of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell show that Wenger's eye for spotting talent has not deserted him and those two could develop into fine players who could be regular players for the Gunners. He has the quality to identify the players who could bring in the quality required and the board and Ivan Gazidis must ensure that they sign the player by beating competition and offering what it takes to sign a quality players. Players like Mario Goetze or Eden Hazard do not come on cheap wages or low transfer fees but these are the kind of players who could provide the quality and creativity that Arsenal need.

Wenger needs to be persuaded to be more ruthless in the summer ad they need to free up the transfer funds by selling players who have under-performed. Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson, Sebastien Squillaci, Manuel Almunia, Johan Djourou, Marouane Chamakh, Park Ju-Young and even Abou Diaby needs to be sold in order to provide the manager the funds to sign better quality players. Wenger and Gazidis need to be swift in signing their transfer targets as well and even if it means spending a little extra million, it is important to get the right player for the side.

With Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott also nearing the end of their respective contracts, it is extremely important for the manager to convince them to stay at the club to avoid what happened with Samir Nasri. Walcott has been erratic on many occasions this seasons for which he has come under criticism but he has the quality to be a very good player. Wenger could be important in persuading him to sign on with Arsenal because he will only continue to get better. Also, he will face some excellent competition from Gervinho, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Ryo Miyaichi which could also help him step up his game.

Holding on to Robin van Persie could be the most important thing for Arsenal in the summer because the Arsenal captain is easily the most important player in the current side. He is currently 28 years old which is why it is even more tricky with him because this could be his last chance to make the move to a top club like FC Barcelona or Real Madrid. The Dutchman has shown that he has the quality to break into any side in the world which is why it will be tough for Wenger and the Arsenal board to convince him to stay.

The wages offered to him would not be the major point of discussion because Arsenal would have to offer him world class wages if they were to have strike any meaningful contract extension. It is important to convince him that quality reinforcements will arrive and only that will make him consider staying at Arsenal. He has stayed with Arsenal for eight years and it is evident that he is very proud to be the captain of the team. His commitment and professionalism has been exemplary and though he is currently happily settled at Arsenal, he will want to win trophies before the end of his career.
Though he has always defended his team members as captain of the team, he will know that quality players are needed to help them win the title in the near future. If Arsenal can finish their transfer business as fast as they can in the summer and show their ambition, there is no reason as to why Van Persie will not want to stay at the club because he does share a great relationship with the manager and also prefers Arsenal's passing style.

Arsenal do have a decent core in the likes of Wojciech Szczesny, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna, Jack Wilshere and Van Persie but these players need the support cast which can help them win titles. The likes of Alex Song, Theo Walcott, Gervinho, Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs can further improve to build on their undoubted potential while there are many promising players like Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Francis Coquelin, Emmanuel Frimpong, Campbell and Miyaichi who could be very important for the future.

Though a picture of gloom and ultimate downfall has been predicted by many, it is not the case as Arsenal do have the players who are capable of winning trophies. But they also need some reinforcements in order to win titles. It has been a very difficult season for Wenger and his blame and they have nobody to blame but themselves for their performances. However, there is still time to turn things around and Wenger is likely to have one final opportunity to build a title-winning team in the summer.

However, if he fails to bring the quality that they need, then it will most likely be the end of Van Persie's time at Arsenal and more importantly, it could be the end of an era at Arsenal. However, one would hope for Wenger that he can take the Gunners to the top once more and for all the achievements that he has done at Arsenal, he deserves to go on a high note and by his own decision.

Arsenal Transfer Prospects: The Pros and Cons of Signing West Ham's Scott Parker

Though Arsene Wenger is probably on his way to South America for the summer, it is certain that he will be  actively involved in finalizing transfers as well as deciding on the futures of several players in the current Arsenal squad. Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson have confirmed that they wants to quit the club and some others are likely to follow in the summer.

The Gunners have been linked with a number of players in the summer and relegated West Ham's central midfielder is one of the targets for Arsene Wenger in this transfer window. West Ham have appointed Sam Allardyce as their new manager and they will hope that he can take them back to the Premiership in his first year.

However, Scott Parker has hinted that he is likely to move in order to play for the highest level and also to play for the England team. The hard tackling midfielder has reportedly attracted the interest of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham and could be signed by one of these clubs. Though Parker is currently aged 30, he was the best player by a distance for West Ham and also won the Football Writers Award for the 2010-11.

Parker started his career at Charlton Athletic where he impressed and attracted the interest of many clubs due to his impressive performances from the English midfielder. He was signed by Chelsea which meant a big step in his career but he did not get many opportunities to prove himself and was discarded by the Blues only one and a half seasons after signing for the club.

Since then, he has played for Newcastle United and West Ham United where he has been excellent for both clubs. Though Parker's performances for the Irons in this season were in vain, it is likely that he will move on to a club in the top six of the EPL in this summer. With Arsenal amongst the clubs being linked with him, this is an article on what Parker brings to the Gunners and also on Arsenal's problems in defensive midfield.


Advantages

Arsenal have not had enough leaders in the dressing room due to a lack of experience and Fabregas in an interview to the Don Balon admitted that the guys look up to him and Van Persie. Parker is a player who is vastly experienced and can help others to cope with pressure. Also, he has played in a team with much lesser quality and has the capability to bring out the best from others as he showed with West Ham.

The England International is a hard tackling player who is good defensively and can thrive in the defensive midfield role for the Gunners though he can contribute effectively in attack as well. He is experienced in the Premiership and can cope with the physicality and the pace of the league which means that he will not need time to adjust to the team.

Parker can play in the role of Jack Wilshere or that of Alex Song in the current Arsenal team and there is no quality back-up for Song if he does get injured. Though Abou Diaby has played in that role, he is not suited to a predominantly defensive midfielder role and Emmanuel Frimpong has only just recovered from his injury which saw him miss almost the entire season.

It would also be personally good for Parker if he joins Arsenal since he can play in the Champions League which no other club interested in him can offer and also, he would play alongside Jack Wilshere at club level which will improve his chances of getting selected in the England team where Wilshere is certain to start.

With a player of Parker's experience, Arsenal's mentality is likely to improve and his never-say-die attitude and commitment to the cause could be just what the Gunners need to get over the finishing line at the end of the season. In more detail, here are five reasons why Parker should be considered by Arsene Wenger, who rarely spends a sizeable fee on a player aged 30.

Disadvantages

Parker's transfer fee could be a problem considering his age and West Ham will not let him depart on a bargain though he is likely to quit the club. Also, Arsenal's major problem this season has been dealing with set-pieces and signing another short player will not solve the problem which is why Wenger wants to bring more variety in height this year.

Also, he could be frustrated with the lack of opportunities at the club if Wenger opts to play Song ahead of him. Though he played one and a half years with Chelsea, he is not experienced with the Champions League which boasts of high quality teams from around the world. He is not quick which means that he could struggle with fast counter-attacks with which the Gunners have struggled to deal with in the past.

He has played through the pain barrier on some occasions this season and that could yet come back to haunt him because he could be injured next season having played a number of games for West Ham despite sustaining some injuries. The last thing that Arsenal would want to have is another player who is a frequent visitor to the treatment room but let us hope Parker, irrespective of which club he joins, can stay fit for most of the season.

Should Wenger sign a Defensive Midfielder in the Summer?


Arsenal have been linked with a number of players in various positions and it is difficult to predict which positions are at the top of the agenda for the Arsenal manager. But it is logical to predict that the Gunners are likely to be in the market for a strong Centre Back who can provide stability to Arsenal, who have been woeful in defending from set-pieces.

However, the Gunners currently have four defenders in Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, Thomas Vermaelen and Sebastien Squillaci. In this scenario, signing a strong physical centre back like Gary Cahill or Christopher Samba who are excellent in the air. Koscielny and Djourou have both shown immense promise for the future and will only get better next season but it is likely that manager signs a player who relishes aerial battles.

Arsenal might need to sign a Centre Back who is likely to be in the range of £10-15 million and to sign a defensive midfielder like Parker or any other decent defensive midfielder, another £8-12 million will be required. The Gunners will also look to sign a striker who can be prolific since Van Persie has been injury prone and also a left winger because Arshavin has been inconsistent and signing a youngster like Ricky Alvarez or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be important in this summer.

The problem for Arsenal is that with the African Nations Cup in January 2012, Alex Song and Emmanuel Frimpong could be away with their National teams though it looks increasingly likely that the Cameroon International will not be a part of the squad. One alternative which can be considered by Wenger is that the Arsenal defenders are quite good on the ball and can play as midfielders when required.

Though Vermaelen is currently Arsenal's best defender, he has a tendency to attack far too much and can get caught out of position for a centre back. However, he has excellent technique and can shoot from range and can easily slot in as a defensive midfielder as well. Johan Djourou has played as a defensive midfielder in his youth and can also do the job in midfield.


Koscielny who has been excellent in many games this season for the Gunners including high profile games against Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United can be paired alongside the new defender and also, he has also shown good potential with his distribution and he can also possibly play in the defensive midfield role though he is not accustomed to the role in his short career.

In the absence of Alex Song due to injury or Internationals, Thomas Vermaelen or Laurent Koscielny can play in his role with the other as the centre back partnering Johan Djourou or the new signing. If a centre back who is good on the ball plays in defensive midfield, it will also mean that Arsenal will have more presence in the box for defending set-piece situations with which they have struggled.

In addition to this, youngsters Emmanuel Frimpong who was on the verge of breaking into the first team squad before his cruciate ligament injury and Kyle Bartley who has shown a lot of promise in his loan spells could also provide depth for Song. The option of playing Vermaelen or Koscielny as a defensive midfielder alongside Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere has to be considered by the manager since it will provide much more security in defense which has been Arsenal's achilles' heel in the recent past.


If interested, read Arsenal Transfer Prospects: Pros and Cons of signing Falcao and Ricky Alvarez

Arsenal FC: Why Laurent Koscielny's Development Could Be the Key to the Gunners

Arsene Wenger has endured a tough time as the Arsenal boss in the past few weeks and the win against Manchester United would have provided him with some relief after the club had endured a string of poor results which will most probably result in them extending their trophy drought.

However, the rise of ticket prices by the Arsenal Football Club has left a bad taste in the mouths of faithful supporters, who have been disheartened by the recent failures. The Arsenal Supporters Trust had suggested some measures to tackle the inflation effect on ticket prices but the club has gone ahead with the decision to increase ticket prices.

With the decision to increase ticket prices, there will be increased pressure on Wenger to splash the money on quality players and more importantly, win trophies. Many sections of the supporters have been let down by Wenger's decisions in the recent transfer markets like signing a 30-year old defender who has never been regarded as a top quality player.

Similarly, many supporters felt that Wenger's decision to sign an inexperienced Centre Back who had just played one season at the top level before being signed by Arsenal was a poor move. Koscielny had an indifferent start to his Arsenal which included a red card on his debut. He did not seem to be confident with the ball though his positioning was good from the start.

Some of the many criticisms that came his way was his decision-making and his extremely thin physique. However, as the season has progressed, Koscielny has shown remarkable progress and has firmly established himself as a reliable defender for the Gunners. He has increasingly shown good value for the money that Wenger spent to acquire his services from Lorient.

The Frenchman, who is also eligible to play alongside Szczesny for Poland, has progressed rapidly since joining the Gunners and has even received a call-up to the France National team. Koscielny has shown that his tenacity can compensate for his thin frame and he is not intimidated by the physicality of the league.

Though Koscielny's mistake against Birmingham was the main reason for the Gunners not winning a trophy this season, his commitment to the cause cannot be questioned. He has played with bruises and cuts and has shown that he is not afraid of tackling hard if necessary. He has displayed immense maturity and for someone
who has been thrown into the deep end, he has responded by showcasing his potential for the Gunners.

The centre back has struggled to establish a partnership with Sebastien Squillaci and the duo have leaked a number of goals when they have played together. However, since the manager has installed Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny as the first choice pairing, the Frenchman has excelled with the only major blip being his error in the Carling Cup final.

The duo have formed a strong partnership at the back and the defence has looked better than it has been for the last few years. The return of the experienced Thomas Vermaelen is certainly a huge boost for the Gunners as his experience and know-how will be integral to the progress of the two youngsters Djourou and Koscielny.

His appearance as a weak player is extremely deceptive as he can match strong forwards in the air and also make excellent tackles. Koscielny is also adept at reading danger and cuts out through balls by making vital interceptions. He was one of the best players on the pitch in the first leg at Barcelona where he nullified the threat of Lionel Messi for large parts of the game.

In the second leg of the Real Madrid vs. Barcelona tie, Ricardo Carvalho, who is one of the most experienced and talented defenders in the game, made a number of heavy tackles which could have seen him sent off. It would be fair to say that Koscielny looked more comfortable than Carvalho against Messi and that shows the calibre of the defender.

Despite many Arsenal fans clamoring for the signing of a new centre back, it could be unfair for any one of Koscielny or Djourou to be the fourth choice centre back despite performing quite well. Vermaelen has recovered from his achilles injury and his season has been very similar to Djourou's 2009-10 season but Wenger and the fans will hope he has a strong 2011-12 season.

The only defender who has been criticized for his inept displays has been Sebastien Squillaci, who has not won over the fans in his first season. It would be tough on the Frenchman if he is sold after his first season but Wenger will have to be ruthless in his decision making. The Arsenal manager could bring in some fresh faces to supplement Koscielny, Djoruoru and Vermaelen and it will provide quality depth to the team.

Koscielny has shown a lot of promise in his debut season and has even scored few important goals for the Gunners. He has certainly not let his manager down and his commitment to the cause has been excellent. Koscielny's development should continue in the next season as well and he could be the defensive rock on which Gunners' future success is built.

Arsenal FC: Why Koscielny and Djourou Are More Important Than Van Persie's Injuries

There have been many questions raised regarding Arsenal's capability to win titles and many have written off the Gunners after the injury to Robin Van Persie. The injury to Van Persie could be a huge factor but Arsenal are still firmly hanging onto the coat tails of United. Though the Red Devils are the favourites in the title race, the Gunners have a great opportunity to snatch the title by being consistent during this time of the year.

The Gunners suffered a morale sapping defeat against Birmingham in the Carling Cup final but the defeat of Manchester United by Chelsea provided a huge boost to Arsenal's title hopes. The performance against Leyton Orient was largely pleasing for Arsenal supporters after the loss and has provided them renewed hope in the three competitions. But many Gooners are still skeptical of Arsenal's title hopes due to injuries sustained by various players.

Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Theo Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen are very important players who are currently injured but apart from Vermaelen, the rest will be back in this month. But the reason why supporters fear that their team will be short is the injury to key striker Robin Van Persie, who was in scintillating form prior to the injury.

Van Persie has had a history of injuries in his Arsenal career and many people point to his injuries as the reason for Arsenal's failures in the last five years. The Dutch striker is capable of conjuring many magical moments which has contributed to the Gunners having a successful run since the turn of this year. However, his injury has ruled him out for three weeks but as has been the case in the past, it could turn out to be more than that before the Dutchman starts for the Gunners.

This has led to many Arsenal supporters doubting their title credentials and how they could cope without the talented striker. One of the main reasons why the Gunners should be confident is the presence of two fit and experienced strikers in Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner. Though the former has not been in good form, he has shown to be a very capable player and is one of the main reasons why Arsenal remain in the title race.

Nicklas Bendtner was excellent at this time of the year, last season when he netted many important goals including the one at the Nou Camp. He is never short of confidence and is expected to play a key role in Arsenal's title challenge this year. Many believe that Van Persie's injury was the reason for their inability to win last year.

However, the fact remains though Arsenal's scoring rate dropped considerably, it was not in attack that they floundered last year. The Gunners did not defend well and injuries to Johan Djourou and William Gallas left the Gunners with little defensive options as a result of which they conceded a number of goals. Wenger admitted after the last season that they had lost the title due to slack defending and overhauled the defence this season.

The injury to Thomas Vermaelen at the start of the season has been a huge blow for the Gunners and the new signings, Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci needed time to adjust to the rigours of the Premiership. Though they both seem capable players, their partnership has been poor for the Gunners which has contributed to their inconsistency this season.

It is no coincidence that Arsenal's superb form this year has been with the defensive partnership of Djourou and Koscielny. It was a surprise selection from Wenger when he fielded this partnership for the game against Chelsea and dropped Squillaci after a decent performance against Manchester United. But Djourou has been immense this season and has repaid the manager's faith with some commanding performances at the back.

Though Koscielny has been criticized by a number of people this season, he has excelled beside the Swiss International and has been integral for the Gunners. It was his mistake which cost the Gunners the Carling Cup but one should not slaughter the lad based on one error. He is the reason why Arsenal are in with a chance of beating Barcelona and was outstanding at the Emirates in that game.

Koscielny and Djourou have been helped by the impressive performances of Wojciech Szczesny and the fullbacks Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna have also been solid at the back. Arsenal have been miserly in conceding goals when Koscielny and Djourou have played together and they have developed an excellent understanding which has provided stability.

Thomas Vermaelen is expected to return for the last few games of the season which could yet prove vital for the Gunners but these two's performances have made it possible for the Gunners to be solid without the presence of the talented Belgium International. There were many people who had written off Arsenal after the injury to Vermaelen and Van Persie at the start of the season but Djourou, Koscielny, Chamakh and Nasri have proved that they can be inspirational for the club.

Van Persie's loss will be a big blow for the Gunners considering his superb form this year but the solid performances of Djourou and Koscielny coupled with the ammunition provided by Fabregas, Nasri and others should be enough to demolish quality opponents. Arsenal have an excellent opportunity to win the season despite the injury to Van Persie because Koscielny and Djourou have built a solid partnership that they have lacked in the past, which has been the cause for their downfall.

Arsenal F.C. opinion: Johan Djourou can be the next Alex Song for the Gunners

Arsenal cruised to a two goal victory over Wolverhampton who could not cope with the quality of the Gunners. Robin van Persie scored both the goals taking his tally for the season to 12 goals only two behind the leading goal-scorer of the season for Arsenal, Samir Nasri. The Gunners kept another clean sheet which will be a huge boost to their confidence ahead of the tough encounter against FC Barcelona who are amongst the best teams in the world.

After conceding four goals within half an hour against Newcastle, it was important that there were no defensive lapses for the Gunners and that they could gain all the three points from their impressive display which could have seen many more goals but for the heroics of Wayne Hennessey. Wojciech Szczesny said after the disastrous second half against Newcastle that the substitution of Johan Djourou caused an imbalance in the side.

Arsenal supporters were hugely relieved by news that the injury to Djourou was not serious and he would be able to start the game against Wolves. The Gunners' best defensive performances this season have been when Djourou has started games for them. With the injury to Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal needed the two new signings Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci to come good to keep their title aspirations alive.

However, it has been the performances of Djourou which has provided the Gunners with a solid base to perform better. The Swiss International has established a superb partnership with Laurent Koscielny and the duo have been good when played together. However Koscielny seems to be extremely uncomfortable when playing alongside Squillaci.

Though Wenger spent around £10 million on Koscielny, it is probable that it will be Djourou who will partner Vermaelen when the latter returns to full fitness. Though he started the season as the fourth choice centre back, the quality of his performances has made Wenger install him as the first choice centre back in the absence of the Belgian.

Djourou has been at Arsenal for a long time and at the age of 24; he is proving that he has the quality to be a starter for the Gunners for years to come. However, the road has not been smooth for the defender and he has worked hard to come back from the injury which threatened to derail his Arsenal career.

Though the Ivorian born player has been at the club for a long time, he was not considered to be the first choice centre back and his quality was questioned by a number of critics. But it is credit to Djourou that he has shown a willingness to wait and has trusted his manager to give him the opportunity he deserves. Wenger has a lot of faith in him and even said to him that he had let the solid Kolo Toure leave the club to provide more opportunities for him.

He is currently enjoying a superb run of games for Arsenal and his performances have made him one of the key players of the season for the Gunners. His progress to the first team has similarities with Alex Song whose credentials to play as the defensive midfielder were questioned by many.

The Cameroon International has developed immensely under the keen eyes of Wenger and has vastly improved over the last couple of seasons. Song made the role of the defensive midfielder his own last season and this season; he has shown that he is a complete player by providing good offensive threat along with his effectiveness in defensive midfield.

Song has established his place in the Arsenal first team and is one of the regulars if fit. He has also won over the Arsenal supporters who regard him to be as important as Cesc Fabregas or Robin van Persie and his commitment to the club has been excellent as well. Djourou's progress this season could undoubtedly be the sign of things to come and he has the quality to be Arsenal's first choice defensive centre-back for the future.

Arsenal FC: Ranking The Top Five Most Important Players for the Gunners

Arsenal cruised to a comprehensive victory over Wigan Athletic with Robin van Persie scoring his first hat-trick of the season. It was a cohesive team performance which strengthened the belief of the Gunners that they can win the Premiership title this season. At the same time last season, Arsenal were struggling to cope with the injury to Van Persie and his absence meant that there was too much pressure on captain Cesc Fabregas.

Van Persie is back to his best after scoring six goals in the last three matches and the Gunners are looking strong with him in the team. They have a settled team combination with Engand Internationals Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere establishing their places in the first team which is something not many would have expected at the start of the season.

Arsene Wenger is on the market for a defender due to the long term injury to Thomas Vermaelen who has still not recovered from an Achilles injury sustained by him in August. Johan Djourou has been immense for the Gunners and has made a strong case to continue to start games alongside Vermaelen in the future.

With less than half the season to go, the Gunners are still fighting for the title on all four fronts and as Wenger said, they need to keep their best players fit to win titles this season. In this slideshow are the five most important players for Arsenal FC.

5. Johan Djourou

The Swiss International was expected to be the fourth choice defender for Arsenal who would play lesser number of games than the others. Also, he was only returning from a long term injury at the start of the season and it was not known when he would be back to his best form. Djourou has dispelled doubts concerning his quality as he has produced consistent performances this season.

Though he started the season as the fourth choice centre back, he has played in many Premiership games this season and has surely moved ahead of Sebastien Squillaci in the pecking order. Djourou and Koscielny have both been excellent in the recent past and both of them are very important this season.

There is every chance that Wenger might not sign a quality centre back in January which means that Djourou will have a key role this season. When the Swiss International has played, the Gunners have looked solid and they have acquired more clean sheets with him in the team than without him.

4. Cesc Fabregas

The captain is arguably Arsenal’s most creative player and can create goals out of nothing. His vision and creativity is extremely important to the Gunners and he can pick out the runs of the striker which helps him supply killer passes like the one to Van Persie for his second goal. The Spaniard is Arsenal’s leader in midfield and dominates and controls the play from the area.

He has developed a superb understanding with Alex Song and Jack Wilshere and at times, swaps positions with any one of the duo which creates more problems for the midfielders. Arsenal have quick wide players and Fabregas’ through-balls to them helps the Gunners to create more opportunities through them as well.

Fabregas also has the knack of scoring vital goals like the one against Chelsea and gets into good positions. He shares a telepathic relationship with Dutch striker Van Persie and both of them are at their best when the influential Arsenal captain plays behind his deputy.

3. Robin van Persie

The Dutch striker scored his first hat-trick in a long time and has looked extremely sharp in recent games, which is a huge boost to the Gunners. The quality of the forward is undeniable but he is prone to injuries and the Gunners will hope that he can stay fit for the rest of the season. Though Marouane Chamakh has performed admirably in his first season in England, Robin van Persie is the best striker that Arsenal have and they need him to play in the big games.

The Dutchman is also a leader at the club and youngsters look up to him for inspiration. He is also excellent in creating opportunities for others which makes him a very dangerous player. In close games against tough opponents, they might not get many opportunities to score and Van Persie being a lethal finisher is a very important player in these situations.

Van Persie has missed a large chunk of the season due to an ankle injury but has still scored eight goals this season which is very respectable considering he has played very less number of minutes. Also, other attackers benefit from the presence of the flying Dutchman because of his creativity which is vital to the team.

2. Alex Song

Alexandre Song has developed rapidly from being a fringe player to one of the most important player to the Gunners in a span of around 18 months. Though he plays deep as a holding midfielder, he has developed excellent attacking qualities and has provided many moments of attacking brilliance this season. He has scored very vital goals like the ones against Manchester City and Chelsea and has also provided an excellent shield for the defence.

Song developed into a quality defensive midfielder last season but this season has seen him progress further and he has improved his passing, technique and vision. His partnership with Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere has been excellent and the trio have been able to create opportunities for the likes of Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri.

Though Song’s role is primarily as a defensive midfielder, he has developed the instinct to join in with the attacks at the right time which provides Arsenal more threat in attack. The Gunners do not have a proper replacement for Song who provides steel in midfield which is why it is vital that Wenger provides him enough rest over the course of the season as possible.

1. Samir Nasri

The French midfielder was touted to be the next “Zidane” due to his impressive performances as a teenager for Olympic Marseille and has always possessed immense talent. However he has been inconsistent in the past which is why he has been unable to fulfil his potential before this season. He was dropped for the World Cup in South Africa and since then, he has been outstanding for the Gunners showing why the manager made a cardinal sin by excluding him for the important tournament.

Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie have both spent a lot of time on the sidelines this season and one of the main reasons why Arsenal still remain in contention on all four fronts is the superb form of Samir Nasri who has scored a total of 14 goals this seasons which is higher than what he managed in the two seasons before this one ( 7 goals in 2008-09 and 5 goals in 2009-10 ). He has scored some brilliant solo goals while many others have been scored due to his intelligent movement and his composure in front of goal.

Nasri’s versatility has also meant that he has played in various positions this seasons and provides a lot of flexibility to the team. Since the departure of Robert Pires, Arsenal have not had too many goal-scoring wingers but Nasri can certainly score a number of goals and he has the capability to produce it on a regular basis.

Arsenal Transfer Prospects: The Pros and Cons of Signing Gary Cahill

Arsene Wenger made it clear that he was in the market for a new defender a few days back but there has been no signing till now and with only nine days to go before the transfer window closes, the French tactician will look to bring another centre back to the Emirates. The Gunners have only two fit centre backs Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou who are fit and the other two defenders Sebastien Squillaci and Thomas Vermaelen are currently injured.

Djourou who did not play in the previous season except for the final game was expected to play only two games a week for the most of this season. However injuries have meant that the Swiss defender has had to play a number of games and the Gunners have benefited greatly from his impressive form this season. Despite his superb performances, Wenger will want to rest him of possible so that he stays fit.

The Gunners will be in a horrible position if the Swiss International gets injured at this time of the season which is why Wenger needs to bring in another defender. They have been linked with a number of defender including the likes of Christopher Samba of Blackburn and Per Mertesacker of Werder Bremen but one defender who has been continuously linked with a move to the Emirates is Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

Wenger has also stated that he would like to sign a defender who has the experience of playing in the Premiership. In the previous season, Cahill was one of the targets according to reports but he was priced too high which is why Arsenal could not sign him. It is likely to be quite high this time as well but Cahill could be interested in the move which would be significant in reducing the price.

Chelsea's top target remains Benefica defender David Luiz and should they sign the talented defender, it is unlikely that any other top European club other than Arsenal will be interested in signing the English International. Also, the Gunners could loan the talented Carlos Vela till the end of the season which would also interest Bolton manager Owen Coyle.

The Bolton defender has been in superb form this season which is one of the reasons that the club is in the top half of the table. Though it does seem like a no-brainer that Arsenal sign the English defender, let us analyse the pros and cons of signing the talented defender.

Advantages

Gary Cahill is a quality defender who has proved that he is amongst the best defenders in the league with consistent displays this season. Also, he is quite young at 25 and has a bright future ahead of him. The England International has excellent aerial ability which is important and also makes vital interceptions to break up play when necessary. He is experienced in the Premiership and will fit into the Arsenal without many problems.

He has also got leadership skills despite his age and can be immense for the Gunners in the future if they do sign him. Wenger likes defenders who have decent technical ability and Cahill is one of the few defenders who can bring out the ball from the back to start attacks. He is also eligible to play in the Champions League games this season which is not the case with many other transfer targets like Mertesacker and Vertonghen.

Disadvantages

Cahill is a player who will undoubtedly add a lot of quality to the team which is why it is difficult to point out many disadvantages in signing the talented England International. The biggest problem that Wenger would face if he does sign a player like Cahill is how he will accommodate him in the first team. It would mean that the Gunners have five centre backs and it is likely that Sebastien Squillaci might be sold in the summer which is unfortunate for the French centre back.

Koscielny and Djourou have both shown that they have the talent to be successful for the Gunners on a regular basis for the Gunners and both of them deserve to have enough playing time in the future in order to develop into excellent defenders in the future. Thomas Vermaelen is certainly going to be a starter if he is match fit which leaves only one place for the other defenders.

Gary Cahill will be most likely to start games alongside the Belgian while Koscielny and Djourou might not get enough opportunities to realise their potential. Koscielny and Djourou have both shown that they do have a lot of potential but if Cahill is signed by Arsenal, it is likely that the duo will receive lesser playing time in the important competitions.

Will Wenger Spend the Money Required to Sign Gary Cahill?

Arsene Wenger will have to make a big decision this week on whether to spend the money required to acquire a quality defender like Gary Cahill. The French tactician will have to sell one of the two new defensive acquisitions in the summer if they do buy a defender like Cahill. Also, Djourou in particular deserves to start games regularly for the Gunners and he looks to have got over his injury problems.

The French tactician might opt for a quick fix solution and buy a defender of much lower quality like Matthew Upson or Sol Campbell but if Arsenal are to challenge consistently on all four fronts, a strong defender like Gary Cahill could be extremely useful for the Gunners and with the goalkeeping issues finally solved, a quality central defender is the requirement for Arsenal to win titles regularly in the future

Arsenal Transfer Prospects: Analysing The Pros and Cons of Signing Matthew Upson

Arsenal eased past relegation candidates West Ham United by scoring three goals at Upton Park with Robin van Persie netting a brace. The Hammers struggled to create anything meaningful and apart from a dreadful back-pass from Johan Djourou, the Gunners' defence looked solid and deserved their clean sheet. The victory would mean that they will be on the tail of leaders Manchester United who will play Tottenham on Sunday.

Arsenal have not got enough numbers at the back because of the injuries to Thomas Vermaelen and Sebastien Squillaci because of which Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou have to start almost all the games. It is likely that Wenger will attempt to sign a Centre Back to provide good cover for the defense.

Arsene Wenger revealed that Thomas Vermaelen will most probably not require surgery but it is still not known when the influential Belgian defender will be back for the Gunners. Sebastien Squillaci has also sustained a hamstring injury which means Wenger will be forced to try to sign a defender in January. He has also insisted that he prefers a defender who has the experience of playing in the Premier League.

Arsenal are looking for a defender who could add quality to the team as well as add some depth to the squad but with four defenders already in the squad, Wenger could add someone who could be a quick-fix solution. West Ham defender Matthew Upson, who has played for Arsenal in the past, could be targeted by Wenger to provide depth to the team because he will be available on a bargain and also he has a lot of experience in the Premier League.

Upson has played for the Gunners in the past but due to the longevity of class players like Martin Keown and Tony Adams and his own injury problems, he struggled to establish himself in the Arsenal team. Upson was allowed to move on from Arsenal and made a number of appearances for Birmingham City. He then moved to West Ham for whom he has been a key player in the last few seasons.

Arsene Wenger has not signed his former Arsenal players back for the Gunners except in the case of Sol Campbell who was signed in the previous season. But Upson could be targeted by the French tactician because his contract ends in the summer and the Hammers could cash in on the England International and also he has immense experience in the Premier League.

Advantages

Matthew Upson has got a lot of experience in the Premiership and at the age of 31, he could still have some good years in him. Also, he is good in the air and is a no-nonsense defender which is what the Gunners need. The England International will benefit from playing alongside a centre back like Thomas Vermaelen who has good pace. Also, he has consistently performed at a top level for West Ham United and though he has made the odd error, he has largely been reliable for the Hammers.

Since the defender is available at a bargain, it makes good business sense to sign the England International as he will provide good cover. He will not take time to adjust and if he does prove to be better than Squillaci, then it could mean that the Frenchman could be shipped out in the summer. Upson has worked with Wenger and can adjust to the needs of the Frenchman if he is signed by the Gunners.

Disadvantages

The England International is clearly not going to be the first choice defender and lacks the quality of Thomas Vermaelen or Gary Cahill. He could end up as yet another back-up defender like Squillaci who cannot establish himself as the first choice defender. The Gunners concede far too many goals in all competitions and they need a strong and capable defender who can add quality to the team.

It is doubtful if Upson will solve the defensive problems of Arsenal although he will provide decent back-up to the first choice defenders. He does not have great technical ability but he has experience in the Premiership and knows how to bring the ball from the back. He also lacks pace which means strikers who have good pace can get behind the defence and cause problems for them.

Should Wenger go for Upson or should he target a quality defender like Gary Cahill?

Wenger should decide whether he has to opt for a defender like Upson who is essentially a fourth choice centre back or to spend money to acquire a top quality defender to partner Thomas Vernaelen. Upson could be a good business deal for the short term but it would mean that either the England International or Squillaci will be on their way out in the summer because the Gunners will have four fit centre backs and Wenger could promote young talented players like Ignasi Miquel.

The decision taken by the French tactician will also be based on how long he estimates Thomas Vermaelen to be fit and back to his best again. If the Belgian is going to miss the majority of the remainder of the season, then the Gaffer must spend money to acquire a quality defender. But Wenger is more likely to make a deal to sign Matthew Upson instead of spending the money required to attract top quality defenders like Per Mertesacker.

Arsenal Transfer Prospects: Analysing the Pros and Cons of Signing Per Mertesacker

Arsene Wenger has recently confirmed that the impressive Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen has suffered another setback in training and is not likely to make a return for the Gunners in the near future. He has also clearly stated that he would have to sign a centre back in January to ease the pressure and work load on the other defenders.

With Arsene Wenger indicating that the Gunners need another centre back, it is likely that the French tactician will target someone who will add quality to the defence. In recent days, the Gunners have been linked with a number of centre backs including the likes of Christopher Samba, Gary Cahill and Per Mertesacker. Mertesacker was also linked with a move to the Emirates in the summer but Arsenal signed Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci to replace the outgoing William Gallas and Sol Campbell.

Sebastien Squillaci has not been impressive so far while Koscielny is improving with experience. However it would be a great boost to their title hopes if they can sign a quality defender who has the experience. Squillaci has also sustained a hamstring injury which leaves Koscielny and Djourou as the only Centre Backs in the squad and the Swiss International cannot be risked in too many games.

This is the reason why Wenger will be forced to spend money in January though it is unsure whether they can attract a top quality defender to leave their club this month. German International Per Mertesacker has only 18 months still on his contract and could be tempted to move to a top European club like Arsenal at this stage of his career. Also, Werder Bremen are already out of the Champions League and are struggling in the Bundesliga.

Though the German International has insisted that he wants to concentrate on his club for now, he could still move in January if Arsenal make the right offer for the tall defender. Let us analyse the pros and cons in signing the experienced Germany defender.

Advantages

Mertesacker is only 26 years of age and still has a long and bright career ahead of him. The German International is vastly experienced with more than 70 International caps to his name and is considered as one of the most consistent centre backs in the world. The fact that he has not yet signed for any top European club yet makes him a possible target for Arsenal who could get him at a lower price because he has only one more year running on his contract.

The tall defender would be a huge boost to Arsenal especially during set-piece situations where the Gunners have conceded some soft goals. The giant Centre Back is a leader at the back and his experience is invaluable to the team in the absence of Thomas Vermaelen. Also, he has got the knack of scoring from set-pieces for his team which makes him a goal scoring threat in such situations.

The Centre Back is very good in reading the game and making vital interceptions. He is a very fair player and is a good tackler. He has also got decent technical ability and his distribution of the ball is good. Mertesacker has shown that he has the ability to be a success in top clubs and with Werder currently struggling, he might look for a new challenge in England.

Disadvantages

It is hard to find disadvantages in signing a quality centre back like Mertesacker but there are some things which Wenger might consider before splashing the cash on the German International. Mertesacker does not have too much pace and might take time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League. Also, he is not having the best of seasons at Werder Bremen and this could prove to be a major challenge for the defender considering that he will have to justify his hefty price tag. The German International will also be ineligible to play in the Champions League games for Arsenal because he represented Werder Bremen earlier in the competition.

Mertesacker will certainly be a great addition for the Gunners but his signing will spell the end of Sebastien Squillaci’s short Arsenal career who will probably be sold in the summer. This is because Wenger has identified that Koscielny has a lot of talent which is why he spent around £8.5 million to acquire his services. Thomas Vermaelen is Arsenal’s best defender while Johan Djourou has shown everyone that he has a bright future at Arsenal. Wenger might have to sell Squillaci in the summer and also, with four quality centre backs in the squad, it will be extremely difficult for talented youngsters Ignasi Miquel and Kyle Bartley to break into the first team.

One more factor which must be considered is the fact that the Gunners might have to be involved in a bidding war with many other clubs. Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with the defender which makes it harder for Arsenal to sign the defender on a bargain. However, Arsenal are a profit-making enterprise and Wenger will have enough money to spend in January.

Wenger’s Decision

The French tactician has been frustrated by the lack of titles in the last five years and that is one of the reasons why the Carling Cup has been considered seriously by Wenger. The reason why Arsenal’s title challenge faltered was mainly due to injuries to key players at important times in the season. With Vermaelen suffering a setback to his Achilles injury, Wenger might be cautious and will not take a gamble. Djourou has only just recovered completely from his injuries but it is better for him to have a lesser work load.

The addition of a quality defender could prove to be an excellent January signing for Arsenal and it will help them boost their chances of winning a trophy. Per Mertesacker’s calmness and experience will add a lot of quality to the defence and though Wenger may have to spend around £15 million, it would be worth the gamble if the Gunners can win a major trophy.