Arsenal in the summer: The collective desperation and the individual wish

In the summer, Arsenal need two things: To collectively bolster their defence; to buy an individual winger. I discuss both possibilities here.

Whether you believe it to be realistic or not, this club believes that the Premier League title is the aim of every single season. It has been one of the only constants to come from every level of the organisation. The board, the owner, Arsene Wenger, and the players. They have all professed that their target, at the start of the season, is to win the league.

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Evidently, given that this season will see the 14th year in which they have failed to sit atop the tree come May, they are not doing very well in achieving such a goal. There are many contributing factors, from the uncertainty that reigns behinds the scenes to the lack of spending power in the transfer market, a market that has evolved under the influence of the Manchester clubs in the past year or so.

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But more than anything, at this current point in time, there is no bigger issue, perhaps other than the minefield that is Wenger and his future, than the standard of the squad, or the lack thereof. Quite frankly, there are a number of substantial holes that need to be filled in this summer’s transfer window if Arsenal harbour any hopes of challenging for the title once again. And I have quite nicely been able to round them into two general categories: The collective desperation and the individual wish.

First, the collective desperation. This is the most pressing issue, or collection of positions that equate to one issue. Quite simply, Arsenal are in dire need of some defensive bolstering. Goalkeeper, centre-half, full-backs and defensive midfield are all positions that could stake a claim to being the most pertinent shortcoming that requires summer investment.

Petr Cech is ageing, and showing it. Laurent Koscielny is also now the wrong side of 30, while Shkodran Mustafi has shown himself too rash to considerately and stably anchor the defence. Hector Bellerin requires competition at the least. Granit Xhaka’s painful lack of athleticism and sense of danger undermines any sense of structure and protection from the midfield. That is a flying overview of the defensive needs of this team, but perhaps tells you everything you need to know: The enormity and volume of them.

The latter category is ‘individual wish’. It would be wasteful for Arsenal to steer their resources towards further attacking options. They have broken their transfer record twice in the last six months on two strikers, tied down Mesut Ozil to a new long-term deal and introduced Henrikh Mkhitaryan for the outgoing Alexis Sanchez. However, in terms of the attacking versatility and completeness of the squad, there is an absence of real, chalk-on-his-boots, whippet-legged winger.

While the defensive needs should take priority and should certainly be addressed prior to the addition of a winger, I still concede that Arsenal do require a true burner out wide. Ousmane Dembele has been ambitiously linked. I would be surprised if that happens. The likes of Riyad Mahrez would be far more reasonable and no less impactful. Nevertheless, Arsenal need a proper winger.

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In all honesty, the chances of any such moves being made are extremely slim. For how many years has this team been crying out for a commanding centre-half or marshalling defensive midfielder? Nevertheless, if this club, the board and Wenger are serious about their title-challenge claims, this is what must be done this summer.