Arsenal Transfer Prospects: Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Signing Patrick Vieira

Arsenal have been linked with a number of players but are yet to announce any official signing barring 19-year old right back Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic. However, it is expected that the Arsenal manager will make some changes in the squad and there will be some players who are expected to leave the club by the start of the next season.

The fixture list was announced on Friday and Arsenal are to face Newcastle(A), Liverpool(H) and Manchester United(A) in their first three Premiership fixtures of the 2011-12 season and also, they will have to play the Champions League qualifiers which could be tricky and further adds to the difficulties that the Gunners face in the opening month of the season.

Arsenal will need to start on a positive note because if they do not start well, they will be under severe criticism from a number of supporters and critics early in the season. This difficult start to the season has an advantage that Arsenal will, hopefully, have a fully fit squad for the start of the season and have been good in the first half of the season in the past.

However, these difficult fixtures in the month of August would mean that Arsene Wenger would have to make his moves early in the transfer market because it is important that the new players are accustomed to Arsenal's style of play and also, they have a good pre-season with their team mates. With this tough fixture list at the start of the season, it is probable that Wenger will try to finalize his dealings before the end of July.

The Gunners will need enough depth in order to challenge for different competitions in the season and will look to reinforce the squad which did do well until their spectacular collapse towards the end of the season. Though Arsenal are financially capable of spending good money on the market, they lack the financial strength of Manchester City or Chelsea and Arsene Wenger will probably look for value in the market and even look for free agents, who can be of good value.

The Premiership clubs have submitted their lists of players who will be free agents in the summer and one player in that category, who will interest a number of Arsenal supporters, is former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. He was released by Manchester City, though they could offer him a new contract in the summer.

Vieira was predominantly used as a substitute in a team which had the likes of Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong and Yaya Toure who are all capable of playing in defensive midfield. Arsenal had been linked with the former France International in a coaching capacity and could be interested in acquiring the services of the midfielder either as a coach or as a player/coach who could give experience to the team.

In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of signing Patrick Vieira as a player/coach is discussed.

Advantages

There was a certain amount of speculation regarding the immediate future of Pat Rice as assistant to Arsene Wenger but later, the French tactician confirmed that Rice will continue at the Emirates as his assistant for the 2011-12 season. Wenger and Rice share an excellent relationship and if Rice does retire, it will be important to bring in someone who will understand the club and also work positively with the manager.

Patrick Vieira has worked with Wenger in the past and shares a good rapport with the manager. He is currently 35 years old and could retire in the near future. The combative midfielder has played in a number of Cup games for City and also as a substitute in many league games as well. It is evident that he is clearly past his peak but he can do a decent job against lesser oppositions.

Arsenal do not have depth in the defensive midfield role with Alex Song virtually having no competition or replacement. However, the Cameroon International has developed at a good pace in the last few years and has established himself as a regular for the Gunners. However, playing a number of games without rotation seems to hurt him as he has had muscle injuries/strains in the last two seasons around the month of April.

The main problem which has been cited by most supporters is not the lack of talent or even the poor defending; it has been the fact that their mentality has been poor in many games and their desire to win and leadership was absent on the pitch. The Gunners have frittered away their leads in a number of games and need to bring in more experienced players, who can guide these young talented players.

Vieira is a natural leader and youngsters will look up to him for advice and he can create a positive atmosphere in the dressing room. Mario Balotelli, who has been criticised for a number of immature actons, has admitted that Vieira is one of the few players he listens to in Manchester City and the stature of the midfielder is certain to help youngsters cope with criticism and other comments.

Also, the Frenchman can be brought on for the last half hour of a game if the Gunners are in the lead because he can help them in keeping their cool and finishing the job. He is an experienced player, who has won trophies in the past and also, shares a good rapport with the fans, who will welcome him to the Emirates.

Disadvantages

Though he is a free agent, the Gunners will most certainly not be able to match the sky-high wages he earned in Manchester City or compete in terms of wages if City offer him a new contract. Arsene Wenger is a manager who will spash the cash only if absolutely necessary and on the footballing side, it does not make sense to offer a six figure salary per week to a player who is nearing the end of his illustrious career.

If Wenger is convinced that Vieira still has some years left in him, then he is likely to offer a one year contract with modest wages in addition to decent wages as a member of the coaching staff, who can take over from Rice when he retires. The Frenchman could also be offered a role in coaching capacity by Manchester City under Roberto Mancini and it is probable that the wages they offer could far exceed that offered by the Gunners.

However, Vieira shares an excellent rapport with Wenger and Arsenal is the club where he enjoyed the best part of his career and also, won trophies with the club. As a player, it depends on how physically and mentally fit Vieira is because age is catching up with the member of the legendary "Invincible" team and Wenger will make a judgement as to whether he can still be of use in a bit part playing role for the Gunners.

Though most supporters would be glad to welcome Vieira back in a player-coach capacity, wages could be an issue and another one is the requirement of only 25 players in the squad including 8 homegrown players. If Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy and Denilson leave the club, then it could mean that the Gunners might have to include some of their youngsters to meet the requirement.

Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Carlos Vela, who were named amongst the youngsters, would have to be named in the 25 man squad and space would have to be accomodated for the new transfers as well. This means that Patrick Vieira would be consuming an important place in the non-homegrown players in the list of 25 players.

The idealistic situation for Arsenal is to sign Vieira as a coaching staff for the Gunners and offer him a contract if there is a place in the 25 man squad. However, it is likely that Vieira will snub such an offer if he gets a player-coach deal at City or another good club. Arsene Wenger will know that there are few players in the world who could bring in leadership and instill strong mentality in the team like Patrick Vieira can do and could look to bring him to the Emirates to help Arsenal win trophies in the next season.



If interested, read Arsenal Transfer Prospects: Pros and Cons of signing Jermain Defoe, Peter Odemwingie, Jan Vertonghen, Radamel Falcao, Ricky Alvarez, Scott Parker and Gervinho in this series of Arsenal Transfer Prospects and also, you can follow me on Twitter

Arsenal FC: Fabregas, Henry, Van Persie In Gunners' All Star Team Of the Decade

Arsenal are one of the most successful clubs in the world, and even though they are going through a frustrating title drought, they have a rich history and have won a lot of trophies in the past. In the last decade, they have been admired by supporters all round the globe for their beautiful style of play.

The Invincibles of Arsenal, who went a full season unbeaten under the stewardship of Arsene Wenger, played some of the finest football in Europe. It was a team that boasted some of the greatest talents that the game has ever seen. Their record has yet to be broken by any team in the Premier League.

I am compiling a list in the interest of cataloguing the best eleven players at their respective positions for Arsenal in this decade.

David Seaman: Goalkeeper

David Seaman was named seventh among the greatest players to have represented Arsenal in a poll on the club's official website. He was one of the safest keepers in the Premier League, and was a great success in his time at Arsenal. He was also the first choice goalkeeper for England, but blamed himself for the loss against Brazil when he was beaten by a superb free kick from Ronaldinho.

In the years from 2000-2003 he was hampered by injuries but was still an important member of the squad. Jens Lehmann replaced him as the first choice goalkeeper in the 2003-04 unbeaten season, and was also great for the Gunners.

Ashley Cole: Left Back
 
Ashley Cole, or Cashley, was one of the best players to have emerged from the Arsenal academy, and was an integral part of Arsenal after he cemented his place on the team in the early 2000s. Arsene Wenger deserves a lot of credit for promoting him from the academy to the first team, bestowing his faith on the Englishman.

Cole subsequently established himself as a regular for England, and was an integral part of the Invincibles. Cashley acquired this name when he quit the Gunners for Chelsea under acrimonious circumstances, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of Arsenal supporters. Gael Clichy has replaced Cole in the Left Back position and is presently Arsenal's longest serving player, but he has still some way to go before he is as good as Cole.

Sol Campbell: Centre Back

Sol Campbell's transfer from arch-rivals Tottenham to Arsenal is still considered to be one of the most controversial transfers to happen in the Premiership. Campbell was one of the best centre backs in the world in his first tenure at Arsenal, and was one of the most important players in the Invincibles squad.

Sol Campbell scored in the loss to Barcelona in the Champions League Final in 2006, after which he joined Portsmouth on a free transfer. His career then took a turn for the worse, joining Notts county from Portsmouth and then quitting Notts after a couple of games. He improved his fitness training with Arsenal reserves, and was signed by Wenger in January.

He put on some courageous displays, with his performance against Spurs deserving of special mention. He moved from Arsenal again last summer to join Newcastle United on a free transfer. Sol has had a long career, and should be appreciated for his committed performances for the Gunners.

Kolo Toure: Centre Back
 
It was a difficult decision for me to include Kolo Toure when there were other extremely good players like Martin Keown amongst others. But the fact that he was one of the most consistent players for the Gunners tilted the scales in favour of Toure and also, he was also the first choice centre back, along with Sol Campbell, in the Invincibles squad.

For more than six years he was a hardworking team player for the Gunners, and I have included him for his importance to the team in the best part of the decade.

He did get not get along well with William Gallas, and looked for a transfer away from Arsenal because of that. He was sold to Manchester City for around 15 million, where he was named captain for the 2009-10 season. However, he stepped down from the captaincy for City in 2010-11 season, and Carlos Tevez was given the armband.
 
Bacary Sagna

Again, it was a tough decision for me to choose Bacary Sagna ahead of Lauren. Sagna is one of the consistent performers for Arsenal and is the first choice right back at present. Sagna joined Arsenal in the summer of 2007, and displaced Emmanuel Eboue to be the first choice at right back.Sagna might not be the best, when it comes to the attacking side of a fullback, but he is still one of the most competent players at his position and is an integral part of the team.


He was voted the best right back in the Premier League in his debut season for Arsenal and has been consistent for the Gunners . He has not won a trophy with Arsenal, but is one of the key members of the current team.

Sagna has always put the team before himself, as was demonstrated when he played following the death of his brother.It was really difficult to choose between Lauren and Sagna, but in my opinion, Sagna can be a great player for Arsenal in the future.

Patrick Viera: Central Midfielder (Captain)

Patrick Viera is an Arsenal legend who endeared himself to supporters with his inspirational performances in the middle of the park.The tough tackling midfielder was one of the most influential players for the Gunners, realizing his true potential during his time at Arsenal under Wenger. He was one of Arsenal's best signings to date, and one of the main reasons why Arsenal were considered to be among the strongest teams in the world.

He was the captain of the Invincibles team, and forged a strong partnership with Gilberto Silva in midfield. He was a complete midfielder that was ranked fifth by Arsenal fans in a poll conducted by the club's official website. He left Arsenal in the year 2005 to join Juventus, where he stayed only for a season. He then moved on to Inter Milan, and in the last year was signed by Manchester City. He still remains a favourite with the Arsenal supporters, and received a rousing reception when he played at the Emirates last year.

Cesc Fabregas: Central Midfielder
 
Cesc Fabregas is the current Arsenal captain and is well worthy of his spot alongside legends like Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry. Fabregas was signed by Arsene Wenger at a bargain price at the tender age of 16 from FC Barcelona. Wenger believed in the youngster's talent, giving him numerous chances, but credit should go to Cesc himself for working hard and improving continuously as a player.

His creativity could be seen at a very young age, and he has improved a lot in his time at Arsenal, turning himself into one of the best central midfielders in the world. At only 23, he still has time on his side, and will be looking to lift a major trophy with Arsenal. On this current young team, Fabregas provides the spark and creativity.

He was named as the Arsenal captain after Wenger stripped William Gallas of the armband. He had the highest tally of goals and assists in the 2009-10 season for the Gunners, and was also nominated for the PFA player of the year award. His only regret with Arsenal is that he has not won many trophies with the team and though he has been linked with a return to Barcelona for some time now, there is every chance that Arsene Wenger can convince him to stay with the Gunners.

Robert Pires: Winger 

Robert Pires' career at Arsenal ended on a very sad note when he was substituted to accommodate a keeper after Jens Lehmann was red carded after only 12 minutes. A heartbroken Pires said afterwards, "I was very disappointed. When I saw my number on the fourth official’s board to be substituted, I couldn't believe it. It was my last game after six years at the club, a Champions League Final in front of all my family in Paris where I became World Cup champion and it lasted just 12 minutes. That was very hard to take".

But in the six years that he was at Arsenal, he was one of the best players for the Gunners. Arsenal supporters loved the way Pires contributed to the team and voted him the sixth greatest Gunner of all time by fans on a poll conducted by the club's official website. Pires struggled to come to grips with the physicality of the EPL in his first year, but quickly adjusted to it and produced some enchanting displays for Arsenal.

Even though his career ended on a disappointing note, he has captured the hearts of the Gooners with his magnificent displays. He'll be remembered forever as one of the most important members of the Invincibles.

Robin Van Persie: Winger/Striker

Robin Van Persie is one of Arsenal's finest talents, and if not for the numerous injuries he has suffered he would surely be considered among the world's best players. Van Persie has the creativity, vision and shooting ability to create goals out of nothing. The very presence of Van Persie on the pitch inspires the Gunners to play better and presents a threat to oppositions.

Van Persie had disciplinary issues, early on in his career at Feyenoord, mainly due to his rifts with the then Feyenoord and present Dutch coach, Van Marwijk. He was signed by Arsene Wenger, who sought a replacement for the aging Dennis Bergkamp. Van Persie was first used as a winger by Wenger, who then said he would get his chances as a striker in the future.

In the 2009-10 season he played as a centre forward, following the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor. He also extended his contract with Arsenal, saying that he couldn't imagine not playing for them. Though there was interest from big clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus, he said he would be more than happy to remain with the Gunners.

At present, he is also the vice captain of the Arsenal team. This season, he was awarded the legendary No. 10 shirt, previously owned by Dennis Bergkamp and had a great season scoring the highest number of goals for the Gunners.
Dennis Bergkamp: Striker

Dennis Bergkamp is regarded by many to be one of the best support strikers in the history of the game. He could play in the "hole" and create numerous opportunities for strikers. He was more than capable of scoring some glorious goals, and was one of the most important Gunners players in the last decade.

The Dutchman possessed skills that most players can only dream of, and forged a deadly partnership first with Ian Wright, and later with Thierry Henry. Bergkamp possessed talents that many footballers can only dream of. He was one of the most loyal players for Arsenal and excelled not only at the club level, but also for Netherlands, scoring 37 goals in only 79 games.

In 2007, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first and only Dutchman to be inducted in. Bergkamp was voted as the second greatest player to have played for Arsenal by an online poll conducted by the club's official website.
Thierry Henry: Striker

This was one of the easiest decisions I had to make while compiling this list.Thierry Henry was voted as the greatest player to have ever played for the Gunners in a fan-poll conducted by the official club website.
Wenger worked with Henry at Monaco, before the latter joined Juventus and the former joined Arsenal. Henry was not a great success at Juventus, and Wenger utilised the opportunity to reunite with Henry.

At first, Henry was playing on the left wing, but Wenger converted him into a centre forward. Henry had early blips in the central role, but under the tutelage of Wenger, he grew to be one of the best centre forwards in the world. He terrorized opposition defenders with his pace, movement, skill and creativity. 

Henry has many awards and achievements to his name. To name a few, he is the third highest goal scorer ever in the EPL, behind only Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. He has scored the highest number of goals for Arsenal in the league. He won the Golden Boot in the in both the Premier League and the European stage on more than one occasion. He was also named on numerous occasions in the PFA team of the year. It is not only the awards that matter, it was his contribution and love for the club that endeared him to the supporters.

7 Great Gunners Who Could Not Be Included

There are a lot of Gunners, who have contributed immensely for the club in this decade, but I could not include all of them in this list. Nevertheless, I would like to name seven more Arsenal players, who could have featured on this list.

Jens Lehmann: Goalkeeper
The German goalkeeper was considered eccentric by many, but what is undeniable is that he had quality, and could be unbeatable on his day. His performances in the 2003-04 season were very good, and it was a major reason that Arsenal went unbeaten throughout the season.

Ray Parlour: Midfielder

Parlour was one of the most under-rated performers in his time, but Arsenal fans have a special place for him in their hearts. He was one of the most consistent players in midfield, and was an important player for the Gunners. He was an important member in the Invincibles squad, and was one of the most loyal players for the club.

Lauren: Right Back

One of the toughest decisions I had to make, while compiling this list was to choose between Sagna and Lauren. Lauren was the first choice Right Back for more than 5 years for Arsenal, and was a part of the Invincibles. He was a very competent player, and also supported the attack on a lot of occasions.

Gilberto Silva: Midfielder

Gilberto Silva formed a partnership with Patrick Viera in the centre of midfield, which was the key to success for Arsenal. Silva played with a lot of passion for the club, and also established a good partnership with Cesc Fabregas, after Viera left the club. Gilberto was a role model for many youngsters, and helped youngsters develop into excellent players for the Gunners.


Nwankwo Kanu: Striker

Following the departure of Nicolas Anelka from Arsenal, Kanu emerged as one of the most important strikers for Arsenal. Though not thhe most prolific of strikers, he could score goals, when Arsenal needed it most. His importance to the side decreased following the emergence of Thierry Henry, but he was a fan favourite in his time at Arsenal and was voted 13th in the poll.

Martin Keown: Defender

He was not at his best after the millenium, but it would be a shame, not to mention him, considering his performances for Arsenal for over 10 years. He was a tough tackling defender, who had a long career with Arsenal, and is regarded as one of the best defenders to have played for the club. He lost his place to Kolo Toure in 2003, and moved on in 2004. He will be remembered as one of the best players to have played for the Gunners in the club's history.

Freddie Ljunberg: Winger



Probably, the most contentious decision in compiling this list was the inclusion of Robin Van Persie over Freddie Ljunberg. It was a really hard decision for me to make, because Ljunberg was one of the greatest players for the Gunners. He had great talent, even better work rate and was a huge fan favourite, who voted him as the 11th greatest Gunner in Arsenal's history in 2008. Ljunberg was one of the most loved players in the Wenger era, who supported him ever since his outstanding debut for the Gunners.

  

Arsenal FC Analysis: Identifying the Five Biggest Weaknesses in Gunners' Squad

It has been a very disappointing end to a season which promised much but fizzled out in spectacular fashion. Arsenal supporters have been made to watch their team showing very little fight in many games towards the end of season. Also, Wenger has looked increasingly like a manager who understands his team's weaknesses but cannot do anything about it.

The game against Fulham is the last game for the Gunners and it is important that they are motivated to perform at their best. In the last home game against Villa, Arsenal went down by two goals early in the match and fans were frustrated with the Gunners' performance.  It is important for Wenger and his team that they can secure a victory at Craven Cottage which could provide them a mental boost ahead of the summer which will see many players leave the Emirates.

Arsene Wenger has placed great faith in the team and it is time for them to step up and win trophies. He has come under immense scrutiny for the various decisions he has made and is likely to analyse on where Arsenal went wrong this season. This article is one five aspects which the Gunners can improve on to be stronger next season.


1. Shaky Defence and Defending against Set-Pieces in particular

Arsene Wenger had a big void to fill at the end of last season when William Gallas, Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre leaving Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou as the only senior defenders left at Arsenal. The French tactician brought in the inexperienced Laurent Koscielny from Lorient and Sebastien Squillaci, who was never highly rated, from Sevilla.

The injury to Thomas Vermaelen early in the season combined with Djourou's long term knee problem meant that the two new signings had to play together in a number of games. They did not have good understanding and the whole team struggled in defence. Since the introduction of Djourou as one of the centre backs, the defence has improved but is certainly not solid.

The team looks very vulnerable in set-pieces and has conceded a lot from set-plays, which is a cause for concern. The inexperience of Koscielny and Djourou at the highest level has not helped them and Vermaelen will have a huge role to play next season. However, for Arsenal to have stability at the back, they will need a strong tall defender who is good at dealing with set-pieces and provide stability at the back.

Also, one must admit that the team has collectively failed in their defensive duties and not all the blame can be shifted on the defenders alone. It is important Arsenal sign a good defensive midfielder like Scott Parker who is bound to provide more protection to the backline.

2. Lack of width combined with poor crossing ability

Arsenal have many exciting young talents who have great potential to succeed in the future but as a team, they lack width required to stretch defences. The team which consists of the likes of Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere is capable of breaking down the defences with lovely interchanges around the box, but if that is not working, they rarely have a proper plan B.

Lack of width is one of the most notable features of this Arsenal team as opponents have closed down spaces in the middle leaving the option of using the wings to deliver useful balls into the box. However, Arsenal's lack of height in their team along with poor crossing have meant that it is easier for opponents to deal with danger from wings.

One of the main reasons why Arsenal do not have width is because their wingers are primarily versatile attacking midfielders who are more comfortable playing in central midfield. Theo Walcott is an exception that he cannot play as a attacking midfielder but he is a player who favours playing centrally as a striker and his crossing is not great.

3. Confidence to Shoot from anywhere within range

Arsene Wenger has emphasized on playing the game in the right way and passing and unselfish play is important at Arsenal. However, many of the players do not take on the shot when there is an opportunity to do so. They often opt to pass it to a player who they think is in a better position and it leads to the play being broken up in several occasions.

Robin van Persie deserves a special mention for his decisiveness in front of goal and seems to have the confidence to convert half-chances. His audacious attempt to beat Victor Valdes at his near post was integral to the victory and it is likely that most Arsenal players would not have attempted to shoot from such angles.

Jack Wilshere is one player who is always looking to find a better placed team mate and also needs to work on his finishing. Chamakh is not good at shooting with his feet and is one who looks for support even when he can attempt a shot on goal. Even Nasri who is very good at shooting often tries to find players in better positions instead of attempting to shoot.

Arsenal need to get more shots from outside the box and the players must need to be more selfish in front of goal. Cristiano Ronaldo is a player never short of confidence and one of the main reasons why he has been so prolific is his confidence to take a shot when there is only half a chance. Players like Nasri and Fabregas who have the ability to shoot from range should be encouraged to do so if they have the opportunity.

4. Set-Pieces

Arsenal have had difficulties in defending from set-pieces this season but one of the other things is that they have also scored much from set-pieces. Robin van Persie, who is usually quite good with his set-pieces, has been disappointing with his free-kicks though to be fair to him, his corners have been quite good.
Samir Nasri has had one or two of his free-kicks hit the post but on the whole, Arsenal have not had success from set-pieces. Cesc Fabregas who delivered that scintillating free-kick against Aston Villa last season has not been taking set-pieces of late as he has been disappointing in this regard this season.

Since they lack aerial threat if both of Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner are not playing, they have not had much of a threat from free kicks which are too far as well. It is important that Arsenal do work on their set-pieces as well in the summer because scoring goals from free-kicks could be crucial in the context of a game where the Gunners might not be able to break down the opposition.

5. Steel, Determination and Leadership

As much as Arsenal have been blamed on the footballing aspects of the game, it is their mental aspect which has been a big hurdle for the Gunners. Though the players do want to end this frustrating title drought, they have lacked the mental strength to win the Premiership. A team which has squandered two goal leads on no less than three occasions has to be considered to be fragile.

Patrick Vieira was one of the former Arsenal captains who could motivate his team mates to perform at their best in the important games. But with a number of experienced players leaving the club in the past five years, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are the leaders of this young team. However, captain Fabregas has struggled to cope with the pressure of captaincy and he has often put too much pressure on himself in order to win.

Also, he has not been able to inspire the team when the team is under pressure like the games against Tottenham and Newcastle. Arsenal need leadership in their ranks and Wenger should need to bring in some experienced personalities into his squad who can instill the right attitude in the team.

Arsenal FC: Why Arsene Wenger and his team’s future hinges on this Summer’s dealings

It has been a very long time, six years to be precise, since Patrick Vieira lifted the FA Cup after being comprehensively outplayed by Manchester United in the final. However, Vieira’s team showed the grit, determination and desire to win the trophy which they accomplished in 2005. The words “grit, desire, determination, mentality” is only found in Arsene Wenger’s press conferences but not on the football pitch in recent years.

The manager has been immensely patient with his team and has hoped that his “Project Youth” will finally succeed and justify the decisions made by the Frenchman. However, it has only tormented Arsenal fans, who are tired of excuses from their manager and players and want to see the Arsenal players fight for the supporters on the pitch.

The Arsenal supporters have been extremely supportive of Arsene Wenger and his policies but six years is too long for a club of the stature of Arsenal and the fans are desperate for the club to win trophies. Arsene Wenger commands the respect of every single Arsenal fan but his policies have not brought success to the club in the last few years.

The Arsene Wenger who took over Arsenal in 1996 was a manager who was prepared to promote youth as well as bring in experienced big names who could help the Gunners win trophies. Wenger, since 2005, has embarked on a youth policy mainly because of the move to the Emirates from their beloved Highbury.

He has let several experienced winners like Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira leave the club and has replaced them with youngsters who were yet to prove their mettle. Enough time has been invested in these youngsters and though some of them like Cesc Fabregas have developed into world class players, it has not been translated into trophies.

After another frustrating year for the Gunners, there were not many to see the walk of Arsenal players around the Emirates to thank the supporters and the supporters are enraged by the rise in ticket prices as well. There are a number of Arsenal supporters who want the manager to leave the club and “Wenger Out” campaigns are at an all time high since the time the former Monaco boss took over as the Arsenal manager.

Wenger is one of the best in his knowledge of football players around the world and he has certainly brought in quite a few successful players, who were virtually unknown till they joined Arsenal. He has been notoriously frugal in the last few years and has spent money only when absolutely required.

It was expected that the manager would bring in an experienced goalkeeper and at least one quality experienced centre back to replace the error prone Manuel Almunia and to replacing the outgoing trio of Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and William Gallas. However, Wenger stalled on the signing of goalkeeper and refused to pay a paltry amount to Fulham for securing the services of the experienced Mark Schwarzer.

Also, he brought in the inexperienced Laurent Koscielny from Lorient and signed Sebastien Squillaci who was never highly rated from Sevilla to plug the gaps in defence. However despite Koscielny showing that he has the quality to be successful in the future, it has proved not to be the right move by the manager as the defence has shipped in a number of goals in the absence of the experienced Thomas Vermaelen.

The manager cannot afford to make any mistakes this season and with the traditional end of season “Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona” rumours flying around, he has to be decisive this season. After the exit of the “ Invincibles” barring Clichy from Arsenal, they have lacked the presence of a leader who can take the reins of the team under pressure.

Wenger will need reinforcements in a lot of positions and also, the quality of the players must not be in doubt. Experience and leadership can bring in a lot of stability to this group of players, who are undeniably talented but lack the mentality required to grind out results. Patrick Vieira and Tony Adams, former Arsenal captains who have won trophies, were men who could inspire their team to fight for the Arsenal shirt.

The current crop of youngsters cannot be accused of not having the desire of winning trophies at Arsenal but have not shown the resilience of Champions. Also, though they are very talented, the mental aspect of the game needs to be worked on. It would not be a bad idea from Wenger to bring in a sports Psychologist or a mental conditioning coach to help the players develop a winning attitude.

On the football side, Wenger needs to bring in some quality players who can improve the competition at the club. There are far too many players on the bench who cannot provide serious competition for places and when the manager is forced to play these players, they are often found to be wanting.

Wenger needs to get rid of deadwood and discontent players and bring in players who have the desire to excel for the club. The manager must spend big money if necessary to bring in the right players to the club. Someone like a Karim Benzema is going to cost the Gunners a lot of money but he is someone who can make a difference to the side.

It will take a lot of time to digest this end of season collapse of the Gunners for the Arsenal supporters but they are sure to offer the support required for the team at the start of the next season. Wenger will have to realise that he needs some new signings to reinvigorate the team and should be prepared to spend the right money.

It is going to be a long summer for Wenger and he will have to be smart in the transfer market for the team to have the quality to win the Premier League. There will be a lot of pressure on Arsene Wenger and his team to succeed next season or it could well mean the demise of this current team.

Arsenal FC: 5 Reasons Why Fabregas Should Not Be Gunners' Captain for 2011-12

It has been a tough few weeks for the Arsenal players, manager and any one associated with the club but it is important that supporters remain positive about the next season. With the season virtually over, the Arsene Wenger will be pondering as to where the season went awry and what he can change for the next season.

He will be considering signing more experienced players to provide guidance to the young Gunners and will be desperate to end the title drought in the next season. The first question that is likely to come up in the summer will be regarding the future of Cesc Fabregas who has already been named as the prime target of cash-rich Manchester City.

The Arsenal captain has been at the club for over seven years now and has been integral to the team. However, in his time at Arsenal, he has not been able to win as many trophies as he would have liked while his home club Barcelona have been winning a number of trophies in the same period.

Though the Arsenal captain has always given his full effort on the pitch, Wenger will be considering as to whether he is the right choice for being the captain for 2011-12 season. These are the reasons why the manager must change the captain for the next season and it is likely that either Robin van Persie or Thomas Vermaelen will be the next captain if Wenger opts to change the captain or Fabregas leaves the club.

1. Desire of Playing for FC Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has been committed to the club whenever he has taken the field and has been great for the Gunners on a number of occasions. He is arguably Arsenal's best player and is the heart of the team. The Arsenal captain has been the subject of transfer speculation in the last few years and he has done nothing to quell these rumors.

If anything, he has only added fuel to the fire with his statements which clearly state his desire to play for FC Barcelona. However in an Arsenal team consisting of so many youngsters, the fact that their captain wants to leave the club will not be positive for the club. Also, these speculations are prominent till the end of the transfer window in August and could have an adverse effect on the mood of the camp in the pre-season.

2. Injuries

The Arsenal captain has been dogged by many injuries this season, especially a recurring hamstring injury, which has curtailed his involvement in a number of games this season. Though he has been eager to play for the Gunners, his body needs to be rested and he needs to have breaks in order to be at full fitness.

As the captain of the team, he has been desperate to start in as many matches as possible but sadly, he has been injury prone this season. Arsenal will need a captain who has excellent levels of fitness and unfortunately, Cesc Fabregas seems to be suffering from far too many injuries due to his long playing career at such a young age.

Wenger would need to  take a cue from Sir Alex Ferguson who opted to give the captaincy to Nemanja Vidic instead of Rio Ferdinand, which was mainly due to concerns about Ferdinand's fitness and Vidic's leadership has been very important for the Red Devils to clinch the title.

3. Responsibility, a Burden for the Spaniard

Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are the two most experienced players in the team and the youngsters look up to them as inspiration. However in a recent interview, Fabregas did stress on the importance of having more experienced players in the team who can guide youngsters. As the captain of the team, he seems to be burdened with a lot of responsibility at such a young age.

Though he considers it to be a privilege to be the Arsenal captain, he has often looked stressed and not enjoying his football as much as he should. He has also put too much pressure on his body trying to lead by example and has played often with niggles and small injuries. The Arsenal manager needs to relieve the burden on Fabregas for him to be at his best and have a long and successful career.

4. Incapability to Inspire the Team

Fabregas is a player who is a winner and hates to lose games and he tries his best to achieve victories for the Gunners. However, he is a player who tries to play to his best to inspire the team but is not someone who can drag his players with his leadership skills. When he is not in form or is struggling with niggles, the whole team seems to be bereft of any drive to win on some occasions.

He is not a vocal leader and has struggled to inspire his team when they are hit by a spell of good pressure by the opposition. The most notable example of this in this season is the 4-4 draw against Arsenal where he failed to inspire his team to preserve the lead. Another example is the game against Tottenham where he was rampant in the first half but when more defensive organization and leadership was needed in the second half, he could not inspire his team.

It is no coincidence that Patrick Vieira was the last Arsenal captain to lift a trophy at Arsenal and he was clearly a leader who could inspire his men to fight hard. Arsenal's legendary captain Tony Adams was again a vocal leader who instilled fighting spirit in his team mates.

5. Inability to Withstand the Pressure

Though the Spanish midfielder is one of the best midfielders in the world, he has clearly been affected by the pressure of captaincy. In the 2009-10 season, he was at his best almost single-handedly keeping the Gunners in the title race with 19 goals and the same number of assists. He is a player who can make things happen but he has struggled to cope with the pressure.

He has been desperate to lead Arsenal to a trophy and it is having an adverse effect on his body. It is clear that he is under huge pressure but playing with injuries should not be on the mind of the captain. But that is exactly what Fabregas did against Barcelona and though he did take responsibility for the mistake, it was a bad precedent to set.

However Fabregas has done his best to cope with captaincy and some of the blame must be attached to Wenger for his inability to bring in experienced professionals who can guide Fabregas and his team to do better. Manchester City brought in ex-Gunner Patrick Vieira and he has been instrumental in guiding many youngsters.

Despite many sections of supporters criticizing the performances of Fabregas and questioning where his heart lies, the Spanish midfielder has played with a lot of heart and deserves to be applauded by every single Arsenal supporter.