Gary Brown
Arsène Wenger has said on a number of occasions that for a team to compete for the season, they need two players for every position. Based on this and the 25-man squad we have to register for the Premier League, if another goalkeeper is added (so that there are three), a defender who can play anywhere across the back four is added, and an attacking player who can play in any of the front-four positions (attacking midfielder, attacking midfielder left, attacking midfielder right, striker) is added, we have a squad of 25. So how do Arsenal measure up and do we really need Rooney, Higuain or for Cesc to come back? This is based on Arsenal's current 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeepers (three)
Szczesny – potentially a great goalkeeper and a very good number two, but not number one material for another year or two. If he had someone he was trying to oust from a position who could also teach him, it could be the making of him. He should be playing as goalkeeper for all League Cup and FA Cup games, as well as games in the Champions League where we have qualified from the group already. If this is the case, and we should still not lose any of these games from errors he has made, he will make a great number two.
Fabianski – history doesn't show a good goalkeeper here for me, but the end of last season seemed to show a change. I think having him as a number three (if he were to play all reserve games to keep somewhat sharp) isn’t the worst thing and, considering we don't have a number one, buying a number 3 isn't a priority now and Fabianski can fill that role adequately, I think.
Needed - a number one keeper such as Cesar from QPR or similar. This would improve our defensive record and push Szczesny without making him feel he has no hope of becoming number one – he would be in two or three years. Begovic would be a great number one, but that might mean Szczesny never becoming number one due to Begovic's age
Defenders (nine)
Right-backs (two)
Sagna – a quality player, was the best right-back in the Premier League for a while, but has lost it a bit. I would give him a two-year extension, by which time Jenkinson would be ready to be our number one right-back and we could be buying a reserve right-back, but it means we are fine in this department for another two or three years
Jenkinson – came on by leaps and bounds last year and I think this year will be even better. I would start him in more home games and against pacy wingers, since Sagna has lost some pace. He should be first choice right-back in two years at most. We have two quality right-backs.
Needed – no one
Left-backs (two)
Gibbs – last year showed what he can do and is ever improving. No issues putting him on the team-sheet as first-choice left-back and he will only get better. Quality for years to come.
Monreal – a very good second choice who could be played against slower wingers to give Gibbs a bit of a rest every now and then. We have two quality left-backs.
Needed – no one
Centre-backs (four)
Big Friendly German – opinion is divided on this and my dad actually doesn't rate him, saying he is slow and clumsy. However, I think he brings a calming presence to the back four and his partnership with Koscielny for the back end of last season was great. He does need a quicker defender as his partner but for me is first-choice centre-back.
Koscielny – his goal last year was great, but for me a defender's main job is to defend, and towards the end of last year Koscielny did just that! He is a very good player who will get better the more he plays. Seems to be the best partner for the BFG and it will be interesting to see if they start this season as first choice (based on last year, I can't see how they don't).
Vermaelen – when we bought him, we all thought “wow – what have we got here!” but last year he fell victim to the apparent “captain's curse”, and whilst he isn't leaving us to join a team that without him wouldn't have won the league, he isn't the same as he was. Stripping him of the captaincy might restore his confidence and give us our player back, but it could also be negative. Currently, he is not first choice for defence and it seems he can play with the BFG but not with Koscielny (see results last year). Things can change, but currently for me he is a good first-choice back up if something happens to our main centre-backs.
Needed - a first choice centre back – as much as I like the BFG, I would prefer a defender who, apart from being big, strong and good in the air, also has pace, since today's game is very dependent on it. I think having the BFG and Vermaelen as two back-up defenders would leave us with a very good squad at the back and, if we can find a high-quality centre-back to play with Koscielny, I would be delighted and we would be very strong. I don't think Williams from Swansea is the answer and I think we missed a chance with Touré on a free. Who to buy? I would buy Skrtel and I think he could be bought for £10-15 million
Needed – a defender who can play anywhere across the back four and would be possibly an up- and-coming player with some experience, maybe 20 or 21 years old. No idea who to buy, maybe Miquel can fill this role from the academy.
