Top five players Arsenal need… and five Wenger must sell
The January transfer window offers the chance for Arsene to fix his flawed squad. Here’s some free advice from The Spoiler
The next transfer window will be crucial for the short-term future of Arsenal. Arsene Wenger may have assembled a squad boasting some of the hottest young talent in Europe, but it’s clear that his team lacks a few crucial ingredients: experience, physical toughness and leadership, to name a few.
Wenger’s boys also rank as one of the least charming groups of players ever to grace the Premier League: Van Persie, Bendtner, Eboue, Adebayor, Gallas… it’s very difficult to love players like these, even for hardcore Gooners.
With this in mind, The Spoiler has drawn up a list of five players who would transform Arsenal into genuine title contenders, plus five players he desperately needs to get rid of…
Five Arsene should sign in January
1. Shay Given (Newcastle)
The Irishman is a world-class, proven keeper who makes very few mistakes. Manuel Almunia, although he has his moments, isn’t. It’s a wonder that Newcastle have managed to hold on to Given for so many years. Wenger should make a concerted effort to bring Given to the Emirates.
2. Matthew Upson (West Ham)
Wenger never wanted Upson to leave Arsenal. But with no promise of first-team football, the English centre-back had little choice but to go. Now would be the ideal time to bring him back to shore up the dodgy defence, although with his reputation at an all-time high, he wouldn’t be cheap.
3. Yaya Toure (Barcelona)
Kolo’s brother is a brilliant defensive midfielder and has the potential to be the next Patrick Vieira (a tag Kolo burdened him with) – at the very least he’d do a better job alongside Cesc Fabregas than Denilson. The rise to prominence of Sergi Busquets has seen Toure sidelined at the Nou Camp, so he might be interested in teaming up with his big bro. The move might also revitalise Kolo, who has looked out of sorts for way too long.
4. Jimmy Bullard (Fulham)
Bullard could be Arsenal’s new Ray Parlour, and I don’t say that just ’cause they both have bad hair and ugly mugs. Bullard would be a very useful addition to Wenger’s squad, if only for the morale boost his arrival would ensure. He’s a force for good in any dressing room and would sort out the whinging shits – you can’t beat a bit of Bully.
5. Micah Richards (Man City)
He’s powerful, versatile, and not the flavour of the month at City anymore – could Wenger tempt the childhood Gooner away from the north?
… And five he should ditch
1. Emmanuel Eboue
Useless and charmless – who needs him?
2. Manuel Almunia
Nice guy and decent shot stopper, but the fact remains: he’s a reserve-team keeper who got lucky.
3. William Gallas
His bridges are burnt beyond recognition. Arsenal can’t move forward with Gallas around the place.
4. Alexandre Song
What does Wenger see in him? Answers on a postcard please.
5. Nicklas Bendtner
Just not good enough for this level.
Agree with the lists? Disagree so much you choked on your sandwich? Let us know either way, people…
9 responses so far
Philippe // November 26, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Well to give the defense a tiny bit more stability he would have to buy another Swiss tower…
MArtin // November 26, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Wow. Not really sure about this list. As far as the “Buys,” Yaya Toure and Micah Richards makes sense, they’re young and pretty skilled but the others not really seeing them playing the kind of football Arsene wants.
The “Sell” list is a bit harsh, no? Almost any team in the premier league would want all those players. PLus, i’d bet you Chelsea or liverpool or MAnchester would enjoy adding Bendtner
to any of their squads. It;s just that we rely on him so much right now.
GunnerGirl08 // November 26, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Umm, kinda agree but I think we need Alonso. Not too sure about selling Song. I actually think he’s a decent player. Also a HENCH centre-back would do us quite nicely. A Puyol-like player would be great!
joka // November 26, 2008 at 7:34 pm
i think we should keep eboue we should get julio baptista again he was a good player for arsenal, we also nees a new owner we should of took man citys owner when we had him
black james bond // November 26, 2008 at 8:38 pm
i agree bendtner should be sold. He isn’t a top striker. Andy Cole would do a better job than Bendtner. I really dont know what Arsene was thinking when he bought bendtner
fourstar // November 26, 2008 at 9:23 pm
“we should get julio baptista again he was a good player for arsenal”
I’m sorry, could you direct me to the nearest parallel universe? Thanks.
my name // November 27, 2008 at 1:52 pm
buy Axel Witsel from Standard Liège !
alexis // November 29, 2008 at 9:03 pm
This is pretty lame list…apart from Micah Richards and Toure( which they can’t afford anyway) the list is bull! why isn’t Denilson on the sell list.
Dan // January 26, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Eboue is the worst player i’ve ever seen in an Arsenal jersey. I don’t know what anyone sees in him.
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