Arsenal: James Rodriguez cannot just be the status quo

James Rodriguez is being heavily linked with a move to Arsenal. However, with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil potentially leaving, more must be done than simply maintaining the status quo.

Arsenal are a team in need of change. There are few who would doubt that fact. But the state of that change, in what form and what people it should effect is a far from clear desire. Some fans would want the whole regime to be changed, from Arsene Wenger to Stan Kroenke. Others want minor changes here and there. Others want the squad to be revolutionised and some just want a couple of key additions.

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Whatever the case, key improvements must be made to the running of the club. For the squad itself, there is a growing stagnation, with the same underwhelming players continually failing to deliver on their ability. The need for a world-class addition is great.

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But such an addition cannot come to simply maintain the status quo. The addition must be made as a genuine improvement to what is already in the squad, not as a like-for-like replacement. The reason why I provide this context for what recruitments must be made this summer is in regards to the surge in recent rumours linking Arsenal with a move for seemingly unwanted Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez.

Few people would begrudge the quality or significance of the signing in a vacuum. Rodriguez, at 25, is a world-class player entering the prime of his career. He would excel as the creative midfielder in Arsenal’s system, surrounded by pace, with the freedom to link up play, to prod and to probe opposing defences.

However, amid the reports of potential incomings, there are two rather substantial outgoings that could scupper any possible progress made through key additions. The futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are far from certain; they both have just one year remaining on their current contracts, having delayed talks on a number of occasions throughout the past year.

If Rodriguez was merely brought in to replace Sanchez, Ozil or both, then the improvements that the squad is in need of have not been made. Even with Sanchez and Ozil staying, there are key weaknesses that need addressing. If they were to leave, then simply replacing them with an equally elite calibre player is just maintaining the same level, and as we have seen, that brings limited success at best.

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Rodriguez would be an excellent addition to make this summer. However, he must not be used to maintain the status quo. He must be seen as a real, genuine and substantial improvement.