Arsenal: Aleksandr Golovin far from what is necessary

Arsenal are being linked with a move for CSKA Moscow midfielder Aleksandr Golovin. The 21-year-old, while a talented player, is far from what is necessary.

Like almost every summer of the past decade, Arsenal enter the transfer window with a rather substantial transfer kitty and a new-found intent to splash the cash, that is, if you were to believe the tabloids. While the validity of such reports can be questioned, what cannot be doubted is the need for sweeping investment.

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As Arsene Wenger himself stated as the season drew to a close, this is a ‘heavy’ squad with a number of players who, through no fault of their own, are lesser contributors thanks to the sheer number of options that Wenger has available to him.

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There is a need for significant change; players must be sold or moved on and star players must be brought in to spruce up the starting XI. That is why rumours linking Arsenal with a move for CSKA Moscow midfielder Aleksandr Golovin are so underwhelming. The 21-year-old, who established himself as a first-team option this past campaign, making 30 league appearances for the Russian club, is a highly-touted, highly-talented player who would be an astute, low-risk, high-reward addition.

This is not a piece to criticise the possible decision to pursue a talented player with a bright future ahead of him. Rather, this is a piece to criticise the lack of awareness of the needs of this squad. Talented youngsters should not be the priority of this summer window; signing significant, star players should be.

This was a summer where Wenger, Ivan Gazidis and even Stan Kroenke reiterated their ambition of winning trophies, challenging for the title and competing with the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid in Europe. For that to happen, investment in established, top-quality players must come.

Golovin, for all his talent and skill on the ball, is little more than a developmental project, someone can be brought in to tutor and to coach in the hope that he flourishes. He is not the marquee signing that is needed, however.

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If Golovin comes to the Emirates amid a number of high-calibre signings, then it is more acceptable. But if Wenger, Gazidis and the club believe that he is the man who will lead them to challenge the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs, then they are gravely mistaken.