Arsenal and Aaron Wan-Bissaka: The need for smart recruitment

Danny Murphy has suggested that Arsenal should sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the summer. It is a rather silly possibility, such will be their numerous needs before addressing the right-back position.

Unai Emery is wanting to revolutionise the Arsenal squad. When Arsene Wenger departed in the summer, we were always going to get the answer to the age-old question of whether it was the players or the manager who were to blame for the recent downward trajectory.

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As this season has proved, with the continued poor performances of many of the same individuals, there is a clear need for substantial spending to replenish a squad that is noticeably lacking in the requisite quality to challenge at the sharp end of the Premier League.

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Naturally, fans are beginning to hang their hopes on particular players that could be signed this summer, with Arsenal potentially looking to sell and reinvest heavily. One name that Danny Murphy raised this week was Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Here is what he said on TalkSport:

"“I do think this lad’s that special. I think right now we [England] are blessed in that area. This Wan-Bissaka, unfortunately for Palace fans, maybe they’ll keep him another year, it won’t do him any harm at all playing more games and getting more experience. There’s a gaping hole at Man Utd for a right-back. Ashley Young’s done brilliantly, but he’s 34. Has he overtaken Trippier or can he? He doesn’t play every week. He [Pochettino] switches between him and Aurier, he is not sure? Arsenal, their back four needs some improvement.”"

Now, I am aware that Murphy is only mentioning the Gunners on a whim here. I am sure that if he thought about the suggestion a little more, he would understand that the Emirates is not an ideal destination for Wan-Bissaka — Hector Bellerin will return next season, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is still around.

But there is an underlying point when it comes to the club’s business this summer: they aren’t going to be able to sign everybody and, given their financial restrictions, they will have to be frugal and intelligent in the positions they try to address.

Wan-Bissaka is a brilliant player, as Murphy rightly highlights, and he would be an excellent signing for Arsenal if they needed a long-term right-back, as, say, Manchester United do. But there are plenty of other needs at other positions that must be focused on first before right-back is addressed. Winger, central midfielder, left-back and centre-back are all deserving of attention well before right-back, and that is before any sales are made.

Simply throwing out good players to sign does not really make sense. The Gunners are not in the position where they can simply cherry pick the best players, no matter where they play. They must be far smarter in their recruitment than that.