Why Arsenal could land a £50m striker - but might not spend big in defence or midfield
THE way things are measuring up, Arsenal fans look set to face another frustrating summer when they must once again trust in Arsene Wenger's reluctance to splash out in the transfer market.
Ever since the wane of the Invincibles a decade ago, the clamour has been there for the Arsenal manager to buy the next Patrick Vieira and Tony Adams.
But it is not just Arsenal lacking these giants of the game it is everybody – with the frustrating exception, as far as north Londoners are concerned, of Chelsea, who in Nemanja Matic and John Terry have the next best thing.
Wenger is astute enough to recognise Arsenal's limitations in these key areas but pragmatic too. While names such as Morgan Schneiderlin and Sami Khedira are being thrown about as a solution to his midfield problems, that is no longer the case.
The views of the Frenchman have crystallised since last the transfer window was open in January and those two players in particular solve a problem he no longer has.
GETTY
Arsene Wenger is happy with his options in defence and midfield but could spend on a striker
The emergence of Francis Coquelin has more than adequately ticked the box of busy holding midfielder, adept at breaking up play and starting a counter-attack. What Wenger needs more than ever is a foil to Coquelin.
Mathieu Flamini has slotted in back next to him recently, as has Aaron Ramsey. Jack Wilshere surely will. But these players are instead seen by Wenger as slightly-more-attacking variations on the Coquelin theme.
What he really needs is Vieira's power and height for his second defensive midfielder to bounce off – and indications are that Wenger is set to stick with the only solution he has come up with in the last nine years - Abou Diaby.
PA
Abou Diaby is set for another chance at Arsenal
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Incredibly, the injury-prone player has been back in action for the reserves in recent weeks, alongside 17-year-old Krystian Bielik, the man Wenger expects to grow into the Vieira role one day. Quite literally.
While Diaby is a match for Vieira's 6ft 4in frame and Bielik only an inch less, Schneiderlin is a shrimp-like 5ft 11in and while Khedira is 6ft 2in, he is not one to use his height to best effect.
Diaby's contract expires at the end of the season and yet still Arsenal are exploring ways of offering him a new pay-as-you-play style deal that will enable a man who has averaged 14 games a season to fill a hole while Bielik is nurtured into the first-team squad.
Calum Chambers Player Profile
At the same time, Hector Bellerin's emergence and Mathieu Debuchy's return to fitness enables Calum Chambers to focus on developing into Wenger's "Tony Adams" solution – hinting at another quiet summer for the Arsenal board.
Signing goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea would at least give Wenger some instant height – and more importantly some composure - in a criticial area in which Wojciech Szczesny appears on his final chance and David Ospina does not quite seem there yet.
But with guaranteed Champions League football looking likely from a top-three finish and income in his pocket now the stadium is paid for, perhaps it means Wenger is ready to stun fans yet again with another stellar signing on an area where he appears to need it least – attack.
Arsenal Transfer Round up - summer 2014
With Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott he undoubtedly has too much quantity, but arguably not enough quality.
Add a £50m attacking player to that mix and he really would have an arsenal at his disposal capable of challenging for the title.
