Arsenal: Top 5 summer positions of need

1. Defensive Midfield

There is not a position in the current team that causes me as much grief and concern as defensive midfield. Unfortunately, that has been said for over a decade. Not since the departures of Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira have Arsenal had a commanding and secure midfield pair to aptly protect and screen the defence.

And this season, like almost all the ones that have preceded it, nothing has changed. In fact, it’s arguable that Arsenal are now worse at the defensive midfield position than they were a year ago thanks to the January departure of Francis Coquelin. That is all without even mentioning the haplessness of Granit Xhaka at the heart of it all.

The Swiss international has proven time and time again that he is simply not good enough to anchor a midfield that requires stability and protection at the base of it. His lack of athleticism, inconsistent passing, and lapse reading of the game comprise a player who neither provides the defensive help or attacking instigation to play the position with any semblance of efficacy.

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Very much like centre-half, defensive midfield is a position that Arsenal have needed to address for far too long. This summer, long after the excuses were valid, perhaps the time has come for Wenger to agree. I’m not holding my breath, though.