What Arsenal really need this summer is Five new signings

THE QUESTION: HOW MANY NEW SIGNINGS DO ARSENAL NEED THIS SUMMER?

Some would say 6 or 7, and others would argue that 2 or 3 are needed. After all, we don’t want any more than that, surely? We don’t want to end up like those failures up the road.

Yet, like most Arsenal fans, I’m looking forward to the fruitful summer transfer window opening up and seeing what new talent graces our wondrous English Premier League.

Obviously this is a little disappointing trail of thought, considering it’s still only April. Which also projects that Arsenal’s season in the league has come to a premature close, after such early promise. Although challenging for the title maybe over, we still have a chase on our hands to clinch forth place. Nevertheless, it’s going to be hard to ignore the re-surface of the ‘In the Know’ accounts, to frenzy the fans into wanting the cream of world footballs finest, to the Emirates. Before we go into that, we should first look at what we have.

At the moment, Arsenal as a team look like a tired disbanded bunch, fresh out of Idea’s. However, wouldn’t any team without their five most influential players?

Imagine Chelsea minus Terry, Ramirez, Luiz, Oscar and Hazard.

Liverpool without Skertl, Henderson, Gerrard, Suarez and Coutinho.

Manchester City missing Kompany, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva and Aguero. You get the picture.

Taking our injuries out of the equation, we have a fearsome starting eleven.

Fearsome XI When All Fit

But it’s a good squad that we need, I hear you screaming… Well the bench prospects look pretty top notch too.

Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Arteta, Flamini, Diaby, Rosicky, Cazorla, Gnabry, Sanogo.

And that’s not taking into account some of the stunning youth players that we may see promoted into the first team, next campaign.

SO WHOM DOES ARSENAL REALLY NEED?

From that starting eleven, you’d probably (obviously) look at Oliver Giroud and want him replaced (or demoted to the bench) for a top class striker. The likes of Cavani, Falcao and Costa are the top names touted around currently.

Personally I would love to see Karim Benzema come in and become the player everyone thought he would be. For me, he is the complete striker we need. Still relatively young at 26 years old. Quick, Agile, excellent clinical finisher, skillful, great in the air and probably the most important thing of all… Has a wonderful working relationship (on and off the pitch) with Mesut Özil.

Karim Benzema – The Complete Striker For Arsenal?

The only stumbling block would be Real Madrid selling him, but I am confident that If Real fail to win anything this year, then we could see them dipping into the transfer market for a new marquee striker (hopefully Luis Suarez).

It’s the transfer market domino effect that is inevitably going to happen and as we saw with the transfer of Mesut, anything can happen.

Will we also finally see a big man playing in the Pivot, alongside Aaron Ramsey or Jack Wilshere?

Lars Bender is one of the top names touted around at present. I can’t lie, I would love to see a dominant physical midfielder in the pivot role. Where would this leave Arteta, Flamini and the returning Coquelin?

Well, I’m sure most of you are saying ‘Who bloody cares?!’ Will we see a new Defensive Midfielder at the club? That is the question.

Finally I’m going to look at the possible exits.

In Fabianski, we have seen the best back up goalkeeper in the Premiership. He is inevitably going to leave but I honestly fear that he is going to jump from one bench straight on to another bench elsewhere. Is this a case of Arsene looking out for the player over the clubs interests? I think you can all agree that seeing him leave is a big shame.

SO WHO WILL COME IN TO REPLACE OUR NUMBER 2?

I’d expect a season long loan of someone of Viviano’s reputation. Nothing much to see here I’m afraid.

In Bacary Sagna, we have a possible player of the year here and it’s quite shocking that he is being allowed to walk out of our club, considering how brilliant he has been for us. Even through the dark periods of the season. I could actually write a whole blog on him alone.

So does he need replacing? I pray (and I’m sure you are too) that the powers that be offer him what ever it is he wants to stay.

In Thomas Vermaelen, this maybe an optimistic view from me, but I don’t think he’s leaving us. I love the fact he’s stayed on the bench and not uttered a word against us, the team selection or the mentality (unlike our friend Santi). I hope that Thomas stay and fights for the armband and the cause.

If either Bacary or Thomas leave then there is no doubt in my mind someone will definitely come in. Either way, I would like to see Micah Richards come in regardless. He has a few months left on his contract at Manchester City. He can play both Right back and centre back and word on the street is that he is a Gooner.

Micah Richards – Worth a punt?

Yes, he’s been out of the first team at the Etihad for a while with injuries but he has also been stuck behind their player of the year (and best Right back in the league) Zabaletta. I have no doubt that he would be a great addition to the Arsenal team, and for those who are pessimistic about his worth. Remember he is still only 25 years of age.

Lastly, we should definitely strengthen the left wing position. Although we all love our resident smiley German who currently inhabits that spot, his effectiveness there has been more of a weakness to the team than a threat.

What is needed is a natural winger who ACTUALLY wants to play there.

The likes of DiMaria would balance us out nicely but perhaps we could see a new German out there in Julian Draxler. Lukas Podolski heading back in the other direction.

So that is five.

A goalkeeper, a right/centre back, a defensive midfielder, a left winger and a striker.

A perfect number. No more, no less. No ins and no outs. Then and only then (avoiding catastrophic injury blows) can we realistically push for a REALISTIC and STRONG title bid, along with good cup campaigns.

So Mr Wenger, as I’ve said before, dither again and it’s curtains for you. That being said, if we do not obtain fourth spot then this completely changes everything.