Kevin Whitcher
So some excellent news in the transfer market and much earlier than many had feared. The signing of Alexis Sanchez seems to have been universally welcomed by Gooners and it is not hard to understand why. He is obviously a quality player and the hope is that he will land on his feet and start performing to his full potential from the off. His World Cup involvement finished on June 28th, so it is possible that he might make an appearance over the Emirates Cup weekend, and I would be surprised if the team that begins the league campaign against Crystal Palace did not start the Community Shield match. Sanchez will definitely play in that game.
With the imminent signing of Debucy to replace Bacary Sagna, there is every indication that things are being done differently this summer. One wonders if Arsene Wenger’s role in the minutiae of the transfer fee and wages negotiations has been relinquished as part of the new agreement. Nothing wrong with Le Boss seducing players with sweet talk as he did with Sanchez. But if a deal needs sealing, surely better that this is handed over to someone who does not have quite so much on their plate, dare I say someone who might not be so much of a penny pincher/pontificator?
So that’s the attack and the right back issues addressed (and remember we currently have Joel Campbell as another option going forward). I think there is a general acceptance at the club that Mikel Arteta is not the man to propel the team to a title, not least because he only has a year left on his deal and there seems no great rush to extend it. The club are working hard to persuade Sami Khedira to follow Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid. If that falls through, the back up options are Lars Bender from Bayer Leverkusen or Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin. The way things are going, one of the above may well be secured in good time for the start of the season, strengthening the options in the middle.
Of course, the centre back roster needs a look at. Is Thomas Vermaelen going to stay? If he does, will the club promote Ignasi Miquel (although one imagines he might be sold) to the first team squad or try and get by with three bodies for the season, which they managed for the most part in 2013/14, but only with Sagna filling in. Additionally, another goalkeeper will doubtless arrive with only Szczesny currently still at the club.
Bringing in new faces ready for first team action shakes things up and creates a buzz, the feeling of real possibilities. Ozil’s game would surely benefit from an outlet such as Sanchez, and with the return of Walcott and the continuing good form of Ramsey, he will have several options. Critically, Sanchez offers pace as well as precision. He may well start in place of Giroud, at least once Walcott returns. He is proven in two top European leagues, and there is no reason to think he will need long to adapt to the Premier League. He may not be at the level of Luis Suarez, but at least he isn’t going to go round biting opponents and getting banned for it. And there are enough Spanish speakers at the club to make him feel part of things from the off.
Like the signing of Ozil, the Sanchez news has created a real sense of optimism that the problems of last season can be addressed. That the quality of the squad could be good enough to get better results against the bigger teams that Arsenal struggled against last time around (along with a change of tactics on the road, naturally). Of course, we await more signings, but the indications are that the club are hard at work to secure them, so this summer looks like it will be a far less frustrating one than 2013. Critically, big names at the club act like a magnet. The signing of Ozil, in spite of a mixed first season, was key in this respect. Sanchez has joined Arsenal because the club match his ambitions – they have demonstrated this by spending big on Ozil and in turn shown the willingness to pay a significant sum for the Chilean himself. Ozil will be starting in the World Cup Final on Sunday, so should not be written off on the basis of a slightly disappointing first campaign in England during which he suffered from injuries to colleagues that would bring the best out of his game.
Players being cast off by the big Spanish sides does not make them bad players. Arjen Robben was released by Real Madrid. I am astonished Barcelona sold Cesc Fabregas with Xavi nearing the end of his useful days. On that note, the reason that Arsenal decided against re-signing Fabregas was presumably a question of priorities, and the fact they do not have unlimited funds. Although Fabregas and Ozil could both be accommodated in the team, it would presumably mean the dropping of either Cazorla or Ramsey, and as it stands, it is difficult to see Jack Wilshere habitually starting matches, especially once Theo Walcott returns. So, yes, it won’t be pleasant to see Cesc in a Chelsea shirt, but it should be remembered that he seemed willing to return to Arsenal.
Still, another significant signing to address the defensive midfield position and that particular pain will be easier to bear. There seems an awareness that the club were light on quality last season, leading to the overplaying of certain players. Some good business this summer can rectify that. Let’s hope Sanchez is just the start of things in that respect.
