We have been boring the chops off your good selves for the last two years about how Arsenal need to strengthen their spine. Banging on with all the belief of a bible-basher about the backbone.
But after the season that Arsenal have had it appears that one area of that core is okay for now.
If Arsenal can, as expected, hold onto Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker with Thomas Vermaelen in reserve, they appear to have enough quality at centre back for now. One more would be ideal but these three are genuine quality.
Therefore the priority requirements would now have to be a monster midfielder and one or two more haute qualité strikers who can win tight matches and offer a bit more variety for The Gunners.
Arsenal have so much creativity in midfield that, with all those players marauding forward, they need someone to anchor the side – someone of real class.
There has been talk recently about Lars Bender coming in but he recently intimated that he doesn’t feel ready for Arsenal quite yet.
So Arsene Wenger might try to snare Javi Martinez from Bayern Munich instead. The Telegraph stated this week:
Arsenal have made an enquiry to Bayern Munich for Javi Martinez, with Arsene Wenger having made a new central midfielder one of his two key transfer priorities this summer.
Martinez, who was part of the Spain squad that won both the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship, only joined Bayern two years ago in what was a club record £32 million deal
Martinez is a top player – a Spanish international of 15 caps – and if Bayern do decide that they want to sell then Arsenal should press ahead because they would be getting a super footballer.
Still just 25 and he’s only been at Bayern for a couple years but we think he’s a better player than Bender. Bender’s not bad but Martinez is mustard. Still, he hasn’t been as prominent in the team since Pep Guardiola came in last summer, and may assess his options post-campaign.
Like countryman Sergio Busquets at Barcelona, Martinez can do a solid defensive job in front of the back four but also has a lovely passing range.
It is most certainly an area that needs addressing this summer. Arsenal should be on the lookout for a defensive midfielder and striker because we think that they are the final two pieces in the jigsaw for an already very good side. Martinez would be an excellent solution for the midfield.
Let’s see the boy in action. Arsenal fans: Surely an exciting prospect?
