Kevin Whitcher
(Ed’s note, written before the news of Per Mertesacker being out for five months. Surely, now, Arsene’s hand will be forced won’t it? Surely he won’t try and get by with just Koscielny and Gabriel until the New Year? Then again… Anyway, the piece as it was before the Per news…)
So Arsenal have bought an English centre back for £2 million. Potential. And you know what, I think that will be it for the strengthening of the central defence this summer. Calum Chambers was an expensive punt two years ago, who might still work out, although I suspect he would have done better if Steve Bould’s influence in training were greater than it is allowed to be. I believe he will have to move on the fulfill his potential or possibly wait out another season until a different manager arrives (in the event that this is Arsene’s final season – you’ve got to allow a man hope!)
But more immediately, the roster for the coming season is new club captain Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel, Chambers and the new boy Rob Holding. A lot of money was paid for Chambers, and on what we have seen so far, it does not seem like money well spent. Mertesacker can read the game, but pace is an obvious weakness. There are even questions about Koscielny’s physicality in the Premier League environment, although some have him as a world class defender. He definitely had an impressive Euros, at least until the final. With Gabriel, one worries about effective communication with his team-mates. From what we have seen, the English language is not something he has really managed to grasp after 18 months at the club – has he ever done an interview, even for Arsenal TV, in anything but Portuguese?
The counter argument is that, compared with others, Arsenal’s goals against record last season was perfectly respectable. They only conceded one more than Tottenham and Manchester United, and the same amount as champions Leicester. However, 34 goals would normally be too many to win a title, and next season, with Jose Mourinho being at Old Trafford and Antonio Conte at Chelsea, I think it’s a good bet that both these clubs will concede less than 30. Even if Guardiola’s Manchester City are more generous at the back, you could envisage them more than making up for it at the other end.
So, certainly, Arsenal’s spending cannot be done yet – a striker has to be purchased. But by limiting the spending at the back to a £2 million buy from Bolton, a youngster who played in a team that suffered relegation from the Championship last season, the club are taking a huge gamble. Granit Xhaka might improve the amount of cover the defence enjoy. It is a gamble that might pay off. But my instincts are that Arsenal will concede more goals than last season unless they buy a proven centre back who is better than the majority of the current options. Mertesacker is a further year past his prime and Petr Cech in goal isn’t getting any younger.
Always two or three players away from that title challenging line-up, Arsenal need to make two statement signings before the season gets going in earnest. £2 million bargain buys from League One are rarely the stuff of titles. 30 years ago maybe, but the game has moved on.
