da mrbet： Arsene Wenger certainly isn’t too fond of the January transfer window, but with his Arsenal side already nine points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, it could well be the opportunity he needs to right some of the wrongs from the Gunners’ lukewarm start to the campaign.
da 888casino： Indeed, the squad, although impressive in certain departments, lacks balance and depth throughout, whilst there are a number of lingering transfer issues that need to be addressed in the new year.
As a result, here’s a list of FOUR key issues the Emirates boss must resolve via the transfer market when it reopens.
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LUKAS PODOLSKI – Does he stay or does he go?
Just as we were all forgetting how much of an impact Lukas Podolski can have on any given fixture, he came off the bench last week to rescue Arsenal a victory against Anderlecht in Champions League Group D – netting this last-minute winner:
Indeed, the 29 year-old is a potent finisher and his experience cannot be understated, having amassed 34 appearances in Europe and 124 caps for Germany throughout his career.
But the winger-forward clearly isn’t the player he once was and appears to be growing disillusioned with his bit-part role at the Emirates, stating in October; “I am a full-blooded player, a street player and I love competition. If I don’t have this competition every weekend then a change must occur.” Resultantly, rumours linking him with a January move have not been hard to come by:
Podolski’s been seeing a bit more action recently, but with Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott set to return to first team action by the time of the January window, he may not even make Arsenal’s match-day squads come the new year.
Wenger’s had trouble moving players on in the past. I’m sure we all remember summer 2013, where the Gunners let Denilson, Sebastian Squillaci and Andrei Arshavin all leave on free transfers despite costing the club around £23million in original investments and an unimaginable amount more in wages.
But he may as well cash in on Podolski before the German’s value begins to depreciate, with his contract set to expire in summer 2016.
SIGN PRETTY MUCH ANY DECENT CENTRE-BACK
At this point, any defender that can improve upon the inevitably subpar performances of 5 foot 10 full-back Nacho Monreal at centre-half will do.
How Arsenal entered the new Premier League season with one defender less than last year – Carl Jenkinson, Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna out, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy in – remains an eternal mystery, and it would now be inexcusable for Wenger not to rectify the situation in January.
There’s certainly some options open to the Gunners – West Ham defender Winston Reid for example looks set to be on the move in the new year, with the New Zealand skipper yet to extend his contract past the summer:
Likewise to Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar, whose World Cup performances for the Netherlands verged upon talismanic:
Here’s a look at the 29 year-old’s World Cup highlights:
//www.youtube.com/embed/KElFlYKBcUY?rel=0
Or, going slightly further afield, rumoured Gunners target Fabian Schar:
Statistically, the 22 year-old Basel prodigy was the best defender in the Champions League last season, as shown below:
And he too is letting his contract wind down with the Swiss champions, suggesting they’ll be forced to sell in the new year.
Upgrade on Arteta and Flamini
No disrespect to Mikel Arteta or Mathieu Flamini, but Arsenal clearly need a more convincing and physical option in holding midfield.
Both have been found wanting this season and if Arsenal are to break the glass ceiling between themselves and the title race, finding an imposing defensive midfielder in January is a necessity. Arsene Wenger appears to agree, having recently called for physical additions in the middle of the park:
The favoured choice of the fanbase would undoubtedly be Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira. A Champions League and World Cup winner, he’s considered to be one of the top midfield enforcers in world football – here’s a clip of him in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/RetIjHKY6pA?rel=0
He looks set to leave the Bernabeu in January after refusing to extend his contract past 2015, but there’s a plethora of clubs already chasing his signature:
That could force Arsenal to consider some more costly alternatives, namely Sporting Lisbon prodigy William Carvalho, who reportedly came close to joining the Gunners on summer deadline day:
Measuring at 6 foot 2, weighing about 14 stone and famed for his simple-yet-effective style, the 22 year-old fits the bill perfectly. Here’s a look at him in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/A8jRQbn1LzE?rel=0
And having recently rejected a new contract at Estadio Jose Alvalade, the Gunners could sign Carvalho for significantly cheaper than his £37million release clause.
LOAN OUT JOEL CAMPBELL
After netting this sensational strike against Manchester United on loan Olympiacos last season:
//www.youtube.com/embed/nloqftNzgYM?rel=0
…in addition to bagging a goal for Costa Rica at the World Cup:
Many expected young winger-forward Joel Campbell to see a fair amount of action at the Emirates this season.
But for whatever reason, Arsene Wenger simply doesn’t fancy him. He has used the 22 year-old in just three outings so far this season – two substitute appearances and a solitary start in the League Cup.
That’s in no small part due to Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck joining the Emirates ranks over the summer, whilst Theo Walcott’s planned return from injury over the next few weeks will further reduce Campbell’s likely game time.
So if the attacker isn’t going to be a semi-regular fixture this year, Wenger needs to sort him a loan move for the rest of the campaign.
Loads of clubs are willing to take the Costa Rican international on – both Roma and Inter Mila were courting his services during the summer:
Whilst Newcastle remain a potential loan destination a little closer to home, offering Campbell vital Premier League experience.
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