Arsenal: Fans infatuation with attackers not helping

Many Arsenal fans are obsessive about attacking players. As entertaining as attackers are, the squad is in dire need of defensive reinforcements.

Arsenal is a massive club known primarily for their attackers’ undeniable flare. Sometimes, fans do not realize that the defensive departments need significantly more attention than the attacking front. Attractive signings like Marco Veratti are exciting, but is not what Arsenal needs at the moment.

Defensive acquisitions far more essential than more attackers

Attackers like Veratti are luxury players that currently are not needed. Signings like Steven N’Zonzi and Bernd Leno would not excite fans as much, but are far more intelligent purchases.

Arsenal’s attacking brand of football is in no danger whatsoever of deteriorating, and adding more to the mix would only unsettle what is already there. A player such as N’Zonzi or Leno would walk right into the Arsenal squad.

Where they play are our main weak points. Signing an Ousmane Dembele for example, would give Alexandre Lacazette or Henrikh Mkhitaryan seconds thoughts about their future in London.

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Don’t fix what isn’t broken

Despite the horrendous season, the Gunners were the 3rd highest scoring team in the Premier League this past season.

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However, they were unimpressively ranked 6th on the amount of clean sheets achieved. It is quite evident that the main weakness of the squad is in the defense. Money is clearly not something that the controversial owner, Stan Kroenke is willing to spend an abundance of, so what little signings we make must be only what we need.

Players being linked such as Dembele are attractive prospects, but should not be the primary target. This board is not like Manchester City’s, and will not spend hundreds of millions in the transfer window, even though they probably should.

Delusion can be detrimental and give unrealistic expectations

The rumor going around the media is that Arsenal have a pathetic transfer budget of £50 million pounds. Whilst snagging Dembele from Barcelona is a dream for the Arsenal faithful, there is a massive chance it will not happen.

Major tactical changes are set to occur with the appointment of Unai Emery, but the underperforming board is still a major issue. The signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyeng and Lacazette have given Gooners an unrealistic perception of how the board works. Kroenke’s philosophy is that you can spend what is earned, the American primary shareholder is unwilling to sink any of his own money into the club.

Next: 3 Players That Could Flourish Under Emery

The red side of London is one of the biggest football clubs in the world. Unfortunately there is a cold, wet blanket of mediocrity draped over the club at this moment in time. The Gunners should be signing the biggest and the best players in the world. Sadly, under the current structure it is an erroneous assumption to think that it will actually occur.